Southwest monsoon to reach Kerala around May 26: IMD

The southwest monsoon is likely to reach Kerala around May 26, the India Meteorological Department forecast on Monday.

The agency added a caveat that the monsoon’s arrival could fluctuate by four days around the May 26 date.

The southwest monsoon season generally begins in June and starts to retreat by September. The India Meteorological Department declares the onset of the season when it hits Kerala.

In 2025, monsoon set in over the southern state on May 24, marking the earliest arrival since 2009.

The date of arrival of the southwest monsoon in Kerala has varied widely over the last 150 years.

In April, the weather agency predicted that the country would experience below-normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon season. This is the first time in 11 years that a shortfall in rainfall has been forecast.

The IMD has projected rainfall at 92% of the long period average of 87 cm for the June to September period. The long period average refers to the average rainfall recorded during the four-month monsoon season in the last 50 years.

The forecast follows two consecutive years of surplus monsoon rainfall in 2024 and 2025.

India receives more than 70% of its annual rainfall during the monsoon months, making the season critical for farming, drinking water supply, hydroelectric power generation and groundwater replenishment.

On Monday, the weather department said...

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