The IMD has also forecasted heavy to very heavy rainfall across Kerala over the next several days. Representational image: iStock
Southwest Monsoon reaches Kerala after a three-day delay; IMD issues rain alerts
IMD has confirmed the arrival of the Southwest Monsoon in Kerala on June 4, while issuing rain and thunderstorm alerts
The Southwest Monsoon arrived in Kerala on Thursday, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD), days after it forecast the monsoon’s arrival. According to the IMD this year, the arrival of the country has been delayed by three days.
Monsoon reaches Kerala
“The Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of Southwest & Southeast Arabian Sea, some parts of westcentral & eastcentral Arabian Sea, entire Lakshadweep islands, Kerala & Mahe, some parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, remaining parts of Comorin area, southeast Bay of Bengal and some more parts of southwest, westcentral, eastcentral and northeast Bay of Bengal today the 4th June, 2026,” stated the IMD.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts for three hours.
Heavy rainfall warning
The weather agency said that thunderstorms with heavy rainfall and maximum surface wind speeds reaching 40 kilometres per hour were likely in parts of the state.
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Besides that, the IMD predicted thunderstorms with moderate rainfall and maximum surface wind speed reaching 40 kmph are likely to occur in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Thrissur districts.
It had earlier issued an orange alert in eight districts of the state for Thursday, when the monsoons are expected to hit the state
Alerts across districts
It further stated that the conditions are favorable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of central Arabian Sea, entire Goa, some parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, some more parts of Karnataka, remaining parts of Tamil Nadu, Southwest Bay of Bengal, some more parts of Westcentral, Eastcentral and Northeast Bay of Bengal, some parts of Northeastern states during next 2-3 days.
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The IMD has also forecasted heavy to very heavy rainfall across Kerala over the next several days. It further stated that parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka will also receive heavy rainfall.
Advance into more regions
The monsoon usually heads northward in a phased manner and covers most of the country by the middle of July.
Weather experts had earlier attributed the delayed onset of the monsoon to a typhoon developing over the western Pacific Ocean. The system is believed to have diverted moisture away from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
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A cyclonic circulation over the Lakshadweep region is also understood to have affected weather patterns, slowing the monsoon's advance towards Kerala and weakening its initial progression.
(With agency inputs)