Patna: The southwest monsoon made an early onset over Kerala on Saturday—eight days ahead of its usual date of June 1—according to a statement released by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This marks the earliest arrival of the monsoon in Kerala since 2009, when it reached the state on 23 May.
The southwest monsoon typically enters the Indian mainland in two branches: the eastern wing, which advances through the Andaman Sea into the northeast and eastern states, and the southern wing, which hits Kerala. With the southern branch already active, meteorologists anticipate that the rain-bearing system could reach Bihar earlier than its usual onset window of June 13–15.
Last year, Bihar experienced a delayed onset of monsoon on June 20. This year, however, officials at the Meteorological Centre in Patna suggest that an early arrival could result in a favourable rainfall season for the state.
