Monsoon is set to hit Kerala in a few days as IMD warns of thunderstorms and heat waves | Today’s news

NEW DELHI: The southwest monsoon is expected to reach Kerala in the next two to three days, marking the start of a critical season for India’s agricultural economy, even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts widespread thunderstorms and areas of heavy rainfall in several regions this week.

The Met Office said conditions remain favorable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into parts of Southwest and Southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep Islands, parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, other areas of Southwest, Central West, Central East and Northeast Bay of Bengal and remaining parts of Southeast Bay of Bengal during the next two to three days.

The normal onset date of the Southwest Monsoon over Kerala is 1 June. In 2025, the monsoon arrived early on 24 May.

Read also | Is 2026 heading for its driest monsoon since 2015?

Driven by branches from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, the monsoon moves gradually northward before covering the entire country by mid-July.

India remains heavily dependent on the southwest monsoon rains, which account for more than 70% of the country’s annual rainfall. Adequate rainfall supports agricultural production and rural demand. With only 55% of India’s net sown area currently irrigated, much of the agricultural land remains dependent on rainfall, so any shortfall is a potential source of higher irrigation costs for farmers.

In its updated long-term forecast released on Friday, the IMD said rainfall during the June-September monsoon season is likely to be 90% of the long-term average (LPA), down from 92% forecast in April. Rainfall is considered normal if it falls between 96-104%.

Separately, the IMD forecast singled out heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms over northeast India and southern peninsular India during the week. Moderate to severe thunderstorm activity, accompanied by gusty winds of up to 70 km/h and isolated hailstorms, is likely over northwestern, central and adjoining eastern India.

Read also | IMD will use AI to provide 10-day monsoon warning to farmers

States across northwest and central India could face gusty winds, lightning and localized disturbances due to storm activity, the ministry said.

Temperatures will rise in northern and eastern India

Despite scattered rainfall and thunderstorm activity in some areas, maximum temperatures are expected to rise in parts of northern and eastern India.

Northwest India is likely to see an increase in temperatures of 4-6 degrees Celsius during the week. In eastern India, temperatures are expected to rise by 2-3°C by June 1 before settling down for the rest of the week.

Maharashtra may see temperatures drop by 2-3°C till June 5 before remaining largely unchanged. Gujarat is expected to witness little change till June 2, followed by a gradual decline of 2-4°C between June 3-7. Across the rest of the country, no significant change in maximum temperatures is expected until June 7.

The IMD has also issued a heatwave warning for Bihar between June 3 and 7, with hot and humid conditions expected to persist in parts of northeast and east India.

Read also | The government has set a deadline of June 15 to decide on a playbook to curb inflation

Hot and humid weather is likely to prevail over Arunachal Pradesh till June 3; Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura on June 2; Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim till June 3; and Odisha from June 2 to 5.

Meanwhile, on May 31, maximum temperatures were in the range of 40–43 °C in many parts of Vidarbha and Telangana, some areas of Gujarat, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and isolated areas of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Marathwada. Most other parts of the country recorded temperatures between 32 and 40 °C, except the western Himalayan region, parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim and isolated pockets of southern peninsular India and island regions where temperatures remained below 32 °C.

The highest maximum temperature recorded on May 31 was 43.8 °C at Washim in Maharashtra.