The monsoon is expected to hit the southern state of Kerala on June 6, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the season has been slightly delayed to enter the agricultural-driven country.
"This year, the statistical model forecast suggests that the monsoon onset over Kerala is likely to be slightly delayed. The southwest monsoon onset is likely to set over Kerala on June 6 with a model error of plus/minus 4 days," the state-run weather department said.
IMD also added that the monsoon will slowly progress northward and will relieving scorching summer temperatures experienced over the northern areas of India.
"Conditions are becoming favourable for advance of southwest monsoon over the southern part of Andaman Sea, Nicobar Islands and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal during May 18-19," the IMD said.
The four-month southwest monsoon season is crucial for the country's farm sector. India's monsoon delivers about 70 percent of the annual rainfall and is essential for the farm sector in Asia's third-biggest economy.
The monsoon season also lends a hand in how investors will react in the stock market, especially for agriculture-listed firms.
The IMD last month forecast said there will be an average rainfall over the June-September monsoon season.
Private weather forecaster Skymet on Tuesday had said monsoon rains are expected to arrive on the southern Kerala coast on June 4.
"The country is likely to receive 93 percent rainfall of the long period average (LPA) in 2019," Jatin Singh, managing director of Skymet, had said.
First Published: May 15, 2019 12:58 PM IST
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