The southwest monsoon is expected to reach Kerala on May 27, earlier than the usual date of June 1.
If it arrives on May 27, it will be the earliest onset since 2009, when it came on May 23.
Kerala’s monsoon onset marks the official start of the monsoon over the Indian mainland.
The monsoon usually spreads across the whole country by July 8 and withdraws by October 15.
There is no direct link between early monsoon onset and total rainfall during the season.
The IMD forecasted above-normal rainfall for the 2025 monsoon season.
India is likely to receive 105% of the long-period average rainfall of 87 cm, with a 5% margin of error.
Rainfall is classified as: deficient (<90%), below normal (90–95%), normal (96–104%), above normal (105–110%), and excess (>110%).
The monsoon is critical for farming, which supports over 42% of India's population and contributes 18.2% to the GDP.
It also helps refill water reservoirs used for drinking and electricity generation.
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