Monsoon to reach Kerala bit early, predict weather experts

Monsoon is expected to hit Kerala by May 28 - two to three days early, predict weather analysts.

The monsoon this year would reach Andaman and Nicobar Islands by May 15. After hitting Kerala around May 28 it would reach central bay of Bengal and then gradually reach the northeastern states, they said.

"It's a good sign because it, at least, assures timely rains this year, but once the monsoon reaches eastern parts of the country that includes Bihar and Jharkhand it may become stagnant," private weather forecaster Skymet's director Mahesh Palawat told IANS.

Parts of Tripura, Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur may also see rainfall three to four days before the normal monsoon date, he said.

Some weather analysts, however, claim that stagnant monsoon predicted in eastern parts of India may not be a good sign.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has already predicted good rains - 104-06

centimetres - this year. The prediction pattern was based on change in the nature of El Nino

pattern.

--IANS

kd/sk/vd