Southwest monsoon has arrived, says IMD, as rains batter parts of Kerala

This is the earliest onset of the monsoon over the mainland since 2009, the Indian Meteorological Department said after fierce rains threw life out of gear across Kerala on Saturday

The Southwest monsoon, which typically rolls in towards the end of May, has arrived eight days earlier than usual this year, the IMD said on Saturday, offering respite from a gruelling heat wave while boosting prospects for bumper harvests.

  Summer rains, critical for economic growth in Asia's third-largest economy, usually begin to lash Kerala around June 1 before spreading nationwide by mid-July, allowing farmers to plant crops such as rice, corn, cotton, soybeans and sugarcane.

Overnight heavy rains and strong winds across Kerala led to uprooting of trees, dislodging of electricity poles and waterlogging of roads in several parts of the state on Saturday.

As rains continued in various parts of Kerala, disrupting the normal way of life, state Revenue Minister K Rajan said that precipitation would be more in districts north of Kozhikode, Idukki and Pathanamthitta.

The minister further said that the strong winds that lashed many parts of the state in the intervening night of Friday-Saturday appeared to be in the nature of monsoon winds.  The monsoon arriving early or late in Kerala does not mean it will cover other parts of the country accordingly. It is characterised by large-scale variabilities and global, regional and local features, an official said.

According to meteorologists, there is no direct relationship between the onset date and the total rainfall over the country during the season.

The IMD in April forecast above-normal cumulative rainfall in the 2025 monsoon season, ruling out the possibility of El Nino conditions, which are associated with below-normal rainfall in the Indian subcontinent.  The minister also said that some places might receive rains in large amounts in a short period of time without any warning, leading to flash floods and landslides.

He said that the authorities were prepared to handle all such situations and the monsoons.

Rajan said that instructions have been issued to all District Collectors with regard to monsoon preparedness and that he will hold an online meeting with them during the day to assess the situation in each of their districts.

He also advised the general public to take precautions in view of the heavy rains and to travel only to safe locations.

The minister also advised against spreading of unverified and unofficial information about the rains on social media.

The IMD had a day ago issued a red alert in two districts -- Kannur and Kasaragod -- and an orange alert in nine others for Saturday.

A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rain of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while an orange alert means very heavy rain of 11 cm to 20 cm, and a yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm.