Monsoon reaches Kerala, earliest since 2009, says IMD

The southwest monsoon hit Kerala on Saturday marking its earliest arrival over the Indian mainland since 2009 when it reached the southern state on May 23 the India Meteorological Department IMD said reported news agency PTINormally the southwest monsoon makes its onset over Kerala by June 1 and covers the entire country by July 8 It starts retreating from northwest India around September 17 and withdraws completely by October 15The monsoon had set in over the southern state on May 30 last year June 8 in 2023 May 29 in 2022 June 3 in 2021 June 1 in 2020 June 8 in 2019 and May 29 in 2018 IMD data showed reported PTIData available since 1975 showed that the monsoon reached Kerala the earliest in 1990 on May 19 13 days before the usual dateAccording to meteorologists there is no direct relationship between the onset date and the total rainfall over the country during the seasonThe monsoon arriving early or late in Kerala does not mean it will cover other parts of the country accordingly It is characterised by largescale variabilities and global regional and local features an IMD official said reported PTIThe IMD in April forecast abovenormal cumulative rainfall in the 2025 monsoon season ruling out the possibility of El Nino conditions which are associated with belownormal rainfall in the Indian subcontinentAccording to the IMD rainfall between 96 per cent and 104 per cent of the 50year average of 87 cm is considered normalRainfall less than 90 per cent of the longperiod average is considered deficient between 90 per cent and 95 per cent is below normal between 105 per cent and 110 per cent is above normal and more than 110 per cent is considered excess precipitation reported PTIIndia saw 9348 mm of rainfall in 2024 108 per cent of the average and the highest since 2020In 2023 it recorded 820 mm 944 per cent of the averageIn 2022 it saw 925 mm 870 mm in 2021 and 958 mm in 2020 according to IMD dataThe monsoon is crucial for Indias agriculture sector which supports the livelihood of about 42 per cent of the population and contributes 182 per cent to the countrys GDPIt is also essential for replenishing the reservoirs critical for drinking water and power generation across the countryWith inputs from PTIatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params