New Delhi, May 18: The Southwest monsoon, which marks the beginning of the rainy season, 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 southwest monsoon advances over the Andaman Sea normally around May 20 with a standard deviation of about one week,” the weather department said.

The IMD informed that conditions are likely to become favourable for the advance of southwest monsoon into some parts of the Andaman Sea and the southeast Bay of Bengal around May 23.

In 2017, India got the first showers through the southwest monsoon on May 30. A figure between 96 to 104 percent is considered normal monsoon. Monsoon season normally extends from June 1 to September 30. Earlier, the MeT had forecasted had forecasted that there was a high probability of a normal monsoon this year. MeT had predicted 97% rainfall of long period average. The figure, however, may vary by 5%. The forecast was for the period of June to September.

The Met Department has informed that India is set to get a normal monsoon this year, with average rainfall likely to be 97 per cent which is essential for the economy. It further added saying that as it progresses northward, the heat marred region will experience relief from scorching summer.

According to a report by IANS, in 2017, the average seasonal rainfall over northwest India was 95 per cent, in central India 106 per cent, in southern peninsula 92 per cent and in northeast India 89 per cent. Meanwhile, over 50 percent of the Indian population is dependent on agriculture and allied sectors. The maximum area under cultivation depends on rain.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 18, 2018 08:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).