New Delhi: The southwest monsoon made an early start over Kerala and the north-eastern region on Thursday, setting the stage for a four-month rainy season for India's agriculture-based economy.
Meteorologists said Cyclone Ramal, which passed through West Bengal and Bangladesh on Sunday, had pulled the monsoon flow into the Bay of Bengal, which could be a reason for the early onset in the Northeast.
On 15 May, the weather office had announced the onset of monsoon in Kerala by 31 May.
The simultaneous onset of monsoon over Kerala and the North-East is quite rare and has happened four times before, in 2017, 1997, 1995 and 1991.
The India Meteorological Department said, "Southwest Monsoon has entered Kerala and advanced into most parts of Northeast India today, May 30, 2024.,
The weather office said the southwest monsoon has also covered entire Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and most parts of the northeast region including parts of Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam.
Between 1971 and 2024, the earliest onset of monsoon in Kerala was in 1999 when the annual rainfall reached the coastal state on 18 May. The onset of monsoon in Kerala was on 22 May in 1999, and on 23 May in 1974 and 2009.
Met office data shows that Kerala has been receiving heavy rainfall for the last few days, resulting in excess rainfall in May.
The normal monsoon onset date for Kerala is June 1 and for Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur and Assam is June 5.The IMD declares the onset of monsoon in Kerala when rainfall of 2.5 mm or more occurs for two consecutive days any time after May 10 at more than 14 stations in the state and neighboring areas, the outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) is low, And the direction of the winds is south-west.
Monsoon is important for India's agricultural landscape, with 52 percent of the net cultivated area dependent on it. Apart from generating power across the country, it is also important for replenishing the vital aquifers for drinking water.
June and July are considered to be the most important monsoon months for agriculture as most of the sowing of Kharif crops takes place during this period.
Scientists said that at present El Nino situation persists and La Nina may start in August-September.
El Nino – a periodic warming of surface waters in the central Pacific Ocean – is associated with weak monsoon winds and dry conditions in India.El Nina – the opposite of El Niño – causes abundant rainfall during the monsoon season.
Meteorologists said Cyclone Ramal, which passed through West Bengal and Bangladesh on Sunday, had pulled the monsoon flow into the Bay of Bengal, which could be a reason for the early onset in the Northeast.
On 15 May, the weather office had announced the onset of monsoon in Kerala by 31 May.
The simultaneous onset of monsoon over Kerala and the North-East is quite rare and has happened four times before, in 2017, 1997, 1995 and 1991.
The India Meteorological Department said, "Southwest Monsoon has entered Kerala and advanced into most parts of Northeast India today, May 30, 2024.,
The weather office said the southwest monsoon has also covered entire Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and most parts of the northeast region including parts of Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam.
Between 1971 and 2024, the earliest onset of monsoon in Kerala was in 1999 when the annual rainfall reached the coastal state on 18 May. The onset of monsoon in Kerala was on 22 May in 1999, and on 23 May in 1974 and 2009.
Met office data shows that Kerala has been receiving heavy rainfall for the last few days, resulting in excess rainfall in May.
The normal monsoon onset date for Kerala is June 1 and for Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur and Assam is June 5.The IMD declares the onset of monsoon in Kerala when rainfall of 2.5 mm or more occurs for two consecutive days any time after May 10 at more than 14 stations in the state and neighboring areas, the outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) is low, And the direction of the winds is south-west.
Monsoon is important for India's agricultural landscape, with 52 percent of the net cultivated area dependent on it. Apart from generating power across the country, it is also important for replenishing the vital aquifers for drinking water.
June and July are considered to be the most important monsoon months for agriculture as most of the sowing of Kharif crops takes place during this period.
Scientists said that at present El Nino situation persists and La Nina may start in August-September.
El Nino – a periodic warming of surface waters in the central Pacific Ocean – is associated with weak monsoon winds and dry conditions in India.El Nina – the opposite of El Niño – causes abundant rainfall during the monsoon season.
