As Kerala, including the southern part of peninsular India, bids farewell to the Northwest Monsoon season, the winter conditions in the state are rapidly turning into summer conditions.
According to a weather bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday, conditions are becoming favorable for cessation of northeast monsoon rains over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, Mahe and adjoining areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Rayalaseema and south interior Karnataka during the next 48 hours.
Withdrawal of Northeast Monsoon will halt the rain activity over Kerala which has been experiencing some isolated wet spells over the Ghat regions and places in the Kerala plains during winter conditions. The cessation of rain activity will lead to a sharp increase in daily maximum temperatures, a rapid transition from relatively cool, winter-like morning temperatures to much warmer conditions during the day.
Average temperatures in the state were slightly around normal or above normal in various parts of the state in January, triggered by isolated showers after a cold December that saw below normal minimum temperatures in most parts of the state and rain stayed away from the state for most of December. As the rain stops, the remaining days of January will warm slightly during the day, followed by warmer weather in February.
According to the IMD, the northeast monsoon ends on December 31 in Kerala and the rain received in January will be counted as winter season. This time, however, the season stretched almost into the third week of January. A recent weather system that formed over the Bay of Bengal and moved towards the east coast of Sri Lanka brought heavy rain and strong winds between January 7 and 11, helping South India receive unexpected showers. It also brought the mercury back to normal in Kerala in January after sub-normal temperatures in December.
Published – 17 Jan 2026 19:49 IST
