Kerala weather today: IMD issues rain alert in 6 districts; thunderstorms likely till June 3

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is likely to witness widespread rain and thundershowers across the state till June 3, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday, as monsoon conditions continue to strengthen over the region.

The weather department has also warned of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph at isolated places across the state till June 1.

Amid the forecast, the IMD issued yellow alerts in six districts, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam, for Friday, cautioning residents about heavy rainfall ranging between 64.5 mm and 115.5 mm within 24 hours.

The department had earlier predicted that the southwest monsoon would likely arrive in Kerala around May 26, with a model error margin of plus or minus four days.

The monsoon generally reaches Kerala around June 1 every year, officially marking the beginning of India’s four-month southwest monsoon season. Last year, the onset in Kerala was recorded on May 24.

In its statement on Wednesday, the IMD said, "Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of southwest and southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep area, southwest, eastcentral and westcentral Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of southeast Bay of Bengal and some parts of northeast Bay of Bengal during the next 2-3 days."

The southwest monsoon is considered crucial for India’s agriculture, drinking water availability, hydroelectric power generation and groundwater recharge, as more than 70 per cent of the country’s annual rainfall is received during the June-September period.

However, the IMD had earlier projected below-normal seasonal rainfall across the country this year.

According to the department, India is expected to receive nearly 80 cm of rainfall during the monsoon season, compared to the long-period average of 87 cm recorded between 1971 and 2020.

The IMD also noted that below-normal rainfall is likely over most parts of the country, except some regions in Northeast, Northwest and South Peninsular India, where rainfall could remain normal or above normal.

One of the major reasons cited for the expected rainfall deficit is the possible emergence of El Nino conditions, which are generally associated with weaker monsoon rainfall over India.