Weather experts attribute this early onset to the cyclone Remal’s impact on pulling the monsoonal flow towards the Bay of Bengal.
Thiruvananthapuram: Triggered by cyclone Remal, the southwest monsoon arrived over the Kerala coast and parts of the northeast a day earlier than predicted by the weather office. Weather experts attribute this early onset to the cyclone’s impact on pulling the monsoonal flow towards the Bay of Bengal. Cyclone Remal, which wreaked havoc in West Bengal and Bangladesh, played a crucial role in advancing the monsoon. “Southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala and advanced into most parts of northeast India today, the 30th May, 2024,” the India Meteorological Department said.
The monsoon arrives in northeast India nearly five days after its entry into Kerala. However, in years when the Bay of Bengal arm of the monsoon is more active, it advances to Kerala and the northeast at the same time.
This year, cyclone Remal led to the early onset of the monsoon over the Kerala coast and parts of the northeast. On Sunday, the cyclone ripped through West Bengal and Bangladesh and had brought the monsoonal flow to the Bay of Bengal, leading to early onset over northeast, according to weather scientists.
Southwest Monsoon has set in over Kerala and advanced into most parts of Northeast India today, the 30th May, 2024.@moesgoi @KirenRijiju @Ravi_MoES @ndmaindia @WMO @DDNational @airnewsalerts @PMOIndia
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 30, 2024
Normally, the monsoon onset date for states like Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, and Assam is June 5. However, the IMD expects further advancement of the monsoon into various parts of South Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep, Bay of Bengal, and northeastern states in the coming days.
The onset of monsoon over Kerala is declared by the IMD if 14 specified stations and neighboring areas receive 2.5 mm or more rainfall for two consecutive days, accompanied by low Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) and south-westerly wind direction.