Thrissur, June 8: The Southwest Monsoon winds struck the coast of Kerala on Saturday morning, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD). With the arrival of monsoon, the four-month rainfall season has begun in the coastal state. The IMD has also issued a red alert in the four districts of Thrissur, Ernakulam, Malappuram and Kozhikode.

The IMD station in Thiruvananthapuram issued the red alert for Ernakulam, Malappuram and Kozhikode on June 11, claiming that the three districts will receive heavy-to-heavy rainfall on Tuesday. A similar alert has been issued for Thrissur on June 10. A advisory have been issued for fishermen, warning them against venturing into the sea on the above dates. Monsoon Hits Kerala Coast After Week’s Delay, Says IMD

Monsoon Arrives, to Hit Mainland India by Month-End

"Monsoon has made an onset over Kerala today (June 8)," said India Meteorological Department's Director General-designate Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.

Several parts of Kerala have started receiving a good amount of rainfall. The news will augur well for the country as large parts have been witnessing agriculture distress and water levels in reservoirs in west and south India have dipped to low levels.

Most of rural India depends on the four-month monsoon season, which accounts for 75 per cent of the annual rainfall, due to a lack of adequate alternative source of irrigation. A good monsoon has a direct impact on the economy as agriculture remains the major contributor to India's GDP.

The north Indian plains, central India and parts of south India have been recording temperatures over 45 degrees Celsius. Mercury has soared to over 50 degrees in parts of Rajasthan.

On Thursday, IMD said the arrival of monsoon in Delhi is likely to be delayed by two-three days from its usual onset on June 29. However, Skymet said it may take at least a week longer.

The city is likely to receive normal monsoon. Northwest India too is likely to have normal monsoon.

The IMD has made a forecast of 96 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) which falls on the border of normal and below normal rainfall. The LPA of the season rainfall over the country as a whole for the period 1951-2000 is 89 cm. It has, however, maintained monsoon will be “normal" for 2019.

The rains in June are likely to be impacted due to El-Nino, although a weak one. It is generally believed that El-Nino, associated with the heating of Pacific waters, has an impact on monsoon.

The delay in monsoon has no co-relation to the overall quantum of the rainfall. However, monsoon will be late in other parts of the country due to its overall delay.

(With PTI inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 08, 2019 02:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).