Onset of monsoon over Kerala likely to be delayed by four days, says IMD

The onset of monsoon over Kerala marks the commencement of the four-month long rainfall season from June to September.

The southwest monsoon is likely to hit Kerala on June 5, four days behind schedule, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday.

This commences the four-month-long rainfall season, from June to September. The normal onset date is June 1.

“The onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala this year is likely to be slightly delayed. The monsoon onset over Kerala this year is likely to be on June 5 with a model error of plus or minus four days,” the IMD said.

Private forecasters Skymet Weather and the Weather Company, an IBM Venture, however, differ, with both predicting an early arrival.

While Skymet