The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has brought some cool news for the people sweating under the summer sun. The Southwest Monsoon is expected to hit Kerala around May 31st, four days earlier or later. This was announced on Wednesday by IMD. The Director General, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, stated that the monsoon will arrive close to the usual date and not earlier than May 1st. The monsoon is crucial for India's agriculture-based economy, bringing rains for four months across the country.
According to IMD data, the monsoon onset dates in Kerala have varied over the past 150 years. The earliest onset was on May 11th in 1918, while the latest was on June 18th in 1972. Last year, the monsoon hit Kerala on June 8th. The data shows varying dates in the recent years: May 29th in 2022, June 3rd in 2021, and June 1st in 2020.
Currently, scorching heatwaves are sweeping across the country, with record temperatures in many states. This has affected power grids and dried up water sources, leading to drought conditions in several regions.
