Monsoon delayed by 4 days, to hit Kerala Coast on June 5: IMD

New Delhi: After missing its normal date of onset, Southwest Monsoon is now expected to hit Kerala coast on June 5.

Though the normal date for onset of monsoon over Kerala is June 1, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted that the monsoon is expected to be normal and in line with the long-term average of 88 cm.

“The onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala is likely to be slightly delayed as compared to the normal onset date of June 1. The monsoon onset over Kerala this year is likely to be on June 5 with a model error of 4 days on either side,” the IMD said in a statement.

June 1 also marks the official onset of rains in the country.

Last year too, the monsoon started late over Kerala on 8 June. Its progress over the rest of the country too remained sluggish, leading to below-normal rain in June. This year, however, prospects look better in the first half of the season.

Last month IMD forecast that India would experience a normal monsoon in which it would receive 100% of its long-term average rainfall between June and September.