Monsoon tomorrow, says weatherman

For a change, the weatherman seems to have got it right. The India Meteorological Department said today that conditions were favourable for the onset of the southwest monsoon in Kerala by Sunday.

The IMD added on its website that the conditions were also favourable for further advance of the monsoon into some parts of south Arabian Sea, some parts of the extreme southern peninsula, and parts of as well as central Bay of Bengal. The monsoon has already advanced over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as IMD had promised earlier. (See: IMD re-affirms prediction of early, strong monsoon)

The met has warned that isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall will take place in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Kerala, and isolated heavy rainfall over Lakshadweep and coastal Karnataka. The outlook for the next two days is rainfall activity at most places over northeastern states and east India, with a possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places.

The monsoon took a brief halt on Thursday and Friday, but conditions have again improved for its further progress over the Arabian Sea, IMD has said. It reached the Andamans as per the 'normal' time-table.

"With favourable conditions, the monsoon has advanced over some parts of the south Arabian Sea, some more parts of the south Bay of Bengal and some parts of the east-central Bay of Bengalon Friday," the IMD said.