Arrival of monsoon likely to be delayed in India

The arrival of monsoon in India is likely to be delayed by a couple of days and is now expected to set in over the southern coastal state of Kerala by June 3, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said today.

Earlier this month, the IMD had predicted the arrival of monsoon over Kerala by May 31 with an error margin of plus-minus five days, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

IMD Director General M Mohapatra today said there is a cyclonic circulation along the coast of the southern coast of Karnataka, adjacent to Kerala, which is hindering the advance of the southwest monsoon.

"The southwesterly winds could strengthen further gradually from June 1, resulting in likely enhancement in rainfall activity over Kerala. So, the monsoon onset over Kerala is likely to take place around June 3," the IMD said.

The normal onset date of monsoon in India (over Kerala) is June 1 and this marks the start of the four-month rainfall season for the country.

Due to the strengthening of lower-level southwesterly winds, fairly widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls is very likely over northeastern Indian states in the next five days.