Overview

• The southwest monsoon officially arrived in Kerala on May 24, eight days ahead of its usual onset date of June 1, marking the earliest onset since 2009.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and coastal Maharashtra, urging residents to take precautions.
• A depression over the Arabian Sea is moving inland across the Konkan coast, bringing downpours, while a low-pressure area is expected to form over the Bay of Bengal by May 27, potentially intensifying rainfall in eastern India.
• Meteorologists emphasize that the early monsoon onset in Kerala does not guarantee early or uniform rainfall across the rest of the country.
• IMD forecasts above-normal monsoon rainfall for 2025, projecting 105% of the long-period average, with no El Niño influence expected this season.