Kerala to Brace for Early Monsoon Arrival: IMD Predicts May 27 Onset

Kerala Awaits Early Monsoon Showers

Get ready, Kerala! The southwest monsoon is set to arrive earlier than usual, potentially making it the earliest arrival in over a decade. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Saturday, May 10, 2025, that the monsoon is likely to reach Kerala on May 27, a full four days before the typical June 1 date.

This early arrival would mark the earliest onset of the monsoon over the Indian mainland since 2009, when it began on May 23. Typically, the monsoon strengthens its hold over Kerala by June 1 and gradually spreads across the entire country by July 8. The retreat begins around September 17 in northwest India, eventually withdrawing completely by October 15.

Above-Normal Rainfall Expected

The IMD had previously forecast above-average rainfall for the upcoming monsoon season, which runs from June to September. They ruled out the possibility of El Nino conditions, which are known to bring below-average rainfall to the Indian subcontinent.

‘India is likely to see above-normal rainfall during the four-month monsoon season,’ said M Ravichandran, Secretary in the Earth Sciences Ministry, adding that the cumulative rainfall is estimated at 105% of the long-period average of 87 cm. This translates to a potentially wetter monsoon season than usual for much of the country.