Monsoon to hit Kerala coast on May 29, three days ahead of schedule

The met department in its first forecast of monsoon for 2018 released last month predicted that it is expected to be 'normal'

Southwest monsoon, the lifeline for millions of farmers across the country, is expected to hit Kerala coast on May 29, three days ahead of normal arrival date, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday.

The forecast is with a model error of plus and minus four days. 

The normal onset date of southwest monsoon is June 1 over the Kerala coast. 

Thereafter,  it covers the entire country in next 45 days. 

The onset marks the start of the rainy season over the region and as the monsoon progresses northward, it provides relief from scorching summer temperatures experienced over the