Monsoon to reach Kerala by 30th May: Met Dept

Southwest monsoon, critical for the farm-based economy of the country, is expected to reach Kerala on 30th May, two days before its normal onset date in the coastal state. "The south-west monsoon is likely to arrive over Kerala on May 30 according to the forecast of India Meteorological Department (IMD)," Earth Sciences Minister Prithviraj Chavan told reporters in New Delhi on Friday. The much awaited seasonal rains are expected to bring showers to the Andaman Sea by 20th May. The normal monsoon forecast is expected to bring cheer to over 235 million farmers who had faced drought last year due to failed monsoon. A good monsoon could help sowing of rice, sugarcane, soybean and corn, and lead to a rebound in the agricultural output.

Shailesh Nayak, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences claimed that the IMD has been issuing accurate forecast on the onset of monsoon over Kerala for the past five years using an indigenously developed statistical model. Another favourable parameter for a normal monsoon was the end of the El Nino event for the year.