Early Monsoon 2025: Kerala Welcomes Rainfall Ahead of Schedule
Monsoon 2025 Arrives in Kerala
Monsoon 2025: The long-awaited monsoon season in India commenced with the southwest monsoon making its way to Kerala on Saturday, May 24. This event marks the earliest arrival on the Indian mainland since 2009, as reported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The monsoon's onset in Kerala occurred eight days ahead of the typical start date of June 1. The IMD had previously forecasted the monsoon's arrival for May 27.
Historical Context of Monsoon Onset
Historically, the arrival of the southwest monsoon in Kerala signifies the beginning of the rainy season across the Indian subcontinent. Analyzing the past five years, there were only two instances of early monsoon onset—2022 and 2024—when it began on May 29 and May 30, respectively, according to IMD data.
Rapid Advancement Across Southern India
The southwest monsoon has progressed further into the southern Arabian Sea, parts of the west-central and east-central Arabian Sea, the entire Lakshadweep region, and Kerala. Heavy rainfall was reported in southern states yesterday, prompting a red alert for coastal regions.
Additionally, the monsoon has moved into Maharashtra, parts of Karnataka, the Maldives, the Comorin area, various regions of Tamil Nadu, and several areas of the Bay of Bengal. The IMD has indicated favorable conditions for the monsoon to extend into more areas of central Arabian Sea, Goa, parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, and other regions over the next few days.
Red and orange alerts for rainfall have been issued for several districts in Kerala for the upcoming three days.
IMD's Seasonal Rainfall Forecast
The IMD had previously released a long-range forecast for the southwest monsoon seasonal rainfall for 2025. According to a notification dated April 15, the overall rainfall from June to September is expected to be above normal, exceeding 104% of the Long Period Average (LPA). This suggests that the country will likely experience more rainfall than usual. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the Director General of Meteorology at the IMD, confirmed that monsoon rains are anticipated to surpass the normal range.
While most states are expected to receive above-normal rainfall, some regions, including the northeastern states, Tamil Nadu, and parts of Bihar and Ladakh, may experience below-normal precipitation.
Importance of Monsoon for Agriculture
A successful monsoon season is vital for India's agriculture-dependent economy. Farmers rely heavily on rainfall for optimal crop yields. The long-range forecast presents a positive outlook for agriculture, particularly for rain-fed crops. Increased rainfall will enhance groundwater resources, which are essential for irrigation and will be replenished by the rainwater.