Chennai: The Southwest Monsoon is likely to set in over Kerala during next 24 hours said S. Balachandran, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Balachandran said a low pressure area is very likely to form over South East and adjoining East central Arabian Sea off Kerala and Karnataka coasts around June 9. It is likely to move north and north westwards and intensify gradually.
The conditions are likely to become favourable for advance of southwest monsoon into some parts of northeastern states during next 48 hours. He also predicted rainfall in a few places in Tamil Nadu on Saturday.
According to IMD, the Southwest monsoon seasonal (June to September) rainfall over the country as a whole is likely to be near normal.
The rainfall is likely to be 96% of the Long Period Average (LPA) and the season rainfall over the country as a whole for the period 1951-2000 is 89 cm. This year the country may receive a rainfall ranging between 82 cm to 89 cm. This would be beneficial to farmers in the country during the ensuing kharif season.
