New Delhi: The Southwest monsoon is "very likely" to hit Kerala on June 9 following favourable conditions, the India Meteorological Department said on Tuesday.
"In view of the strengthening of cross equatorial flow and deepening of westerlies over South Arabian sea and development of feeble off-shore trough along Karnataka-Kerala coast, onset of (southwest) monsoon over Kerala is very likely by June 9," IMD said in its mid-day bulletin.
Meanwhile, rains lashed many parts of Tamil Nadu in the last 24 hours ending 0830 hours today, the regional weather office said.
Summer rains accompanied with lightning and thunder were witnessed in many parts of the state including Chennai, it said, adding, Sembarambakkam recorded the highest rainfall of five cm, followed by Chennai at four cm.
The weather office forecast rain at a few places in South Tamil Nadu and over one or two places in the northern parts of the state for the next 48 hours. Thunderstorms were likely in Chennai during the period, it said.
Meanwhile, heavy rains have been lashing several places in Kerala and Lakshadweep since this morning.
According to the weather station here, heavy rainfall was reported in Quilandy in Kozhikode district- eight cm and Peringamala in Thiruvananthapuram district- seven cm followed by Aryankavu (Kollam district), Vaikom (Kottayam district) and Nedumangad (Thiruvananthapuram district)- six cm each.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is most likely to occur at one or two places in the state till June 10 morning, the weather station bulletin said.
As strong winds from south westerly direction, with speed occasionally reaching 45-55 kmph, is likely along and off Kerala coasts and over Lakshadweep area during the next 24 hours, sea going fishermen should be vigilant, the bulletin added.
