Monsoon delayed, heatwave warning in 8 districts

KOCHI:WITH temperatures soaring in the state and government issuing heatwave warnings in eight districts, the news of delayed southwest monsoon has further dampened the spirit of Keralites who were expecting the showers to bring down the mercury levels.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the monsoon is expected to arrive in Kerala by June 4. “A slight delay is expected in the onset of monsoon this season.

“The southwest monsoon normally sets in over Kerala on June 1, with a standard deviation of about seven days.

“This year, the southwest monsoon onset over Kerala is likely to be slightly delayed. The monsoon onset over Kerala is likely to be on June 4 with a model error of four days,” the Met office said in a statement in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The monsoon arrived in the southern state on May 29 last year, June 3 in 2021 and June 1 in 2020.

The advance of the southwest monsoon over the Indian mainland is marked by the onset over Kerala and is an important indicator characterising the transition from the hot and dry season to the rainy season.

The IMD had last month said India is expected to get normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon season despite the evolving El Nino conditions.

Rain fed agriculture is a critical component of India’s agricultural landscape, with 52 per cent of the net cultivated area relying on this method. It accounts for about 40 per cent of the country’s total food production, making it a crucial contributor to India’s food security and economic stability.

Also on Tuesday, the meteorological department issued a heatwave warning in eight districts of Kerala due to the rising temperatures.

According to forecasts, Kozhikode and Palakkad districts are expected to experience a rise in temperature up to 37°C on Tuesday.

Kotayam, Alappuzha, and Kollam districts may also witness temperatures reaching 36°C, while Kannur, Malappuram, and Trivandrum districts could see temperatures rise up to 35°C.

These temperatures are 2°C to 4°C above the normal range.

A yellow alert has been declared for all these districts. The met department said the alert is in response to the escalating levels of temperature and humidity in the state.

The weather department further predicts that hot and unsetling weather conditions will prevail in these districts on Tuesday, excluding hilly areas, due to the combination of high temperatures and humid air.