The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday announced the arrival of the southwest monsoon over Kerala — eight days ahead of its usual schedule. This marks the earliest onset since 2009, when the monsoon reached the southern state on 23 May.

Typically, the monsoon hits Kerala by 1 June and then gradually covers the rest of the country by early July.The monsoon has already covered the entire Lakshadweep region, Kerala, Mahe, parts of Karnataka, the rest of the Maldives, and Comorin area, large parts of Tamil Nadu, and some areas of Mizoram.It further said that conditions are favourable for the southwest monsoon to advance over the next 2–3 days. It is likely to cover more parts of the central Arabian Sea, the whole of Goa, parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, additional areas in Karnataka, the remaining parts of Tamil Nadu, more parts of the west-central and north Bay of Bengal, more areas in the Northeast, and some parts of sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim.

According to IMD data, the monsoon arrived in Kerala on 30 May last year, 8 June in 2023, and 29 May in 2022. Looking back at past data, the earliest onset ever recorded was on 19 May 1990, which was 13 days ahead of schedule. While the timing may vary each year, meteorologists stress that the date of onset in Kerala does not directly impact the total rainfall or its spread across the rest of India. IMD had earlier forecast above-normal cumulative rainfall for the 2025 season.

It also ruled out the presence of El Nino conditions — a climate pattern typically linked with below-normal monsoons in India.According to the IMD, rainfall between 96 per cent and 104 per cent of the 50-year average of 87 cm is considered 'normal'. Rainfall less than 90 per cent of the long-period average is considered 'deficient'; between 90 per cent and 95 per cent is 'below normal'; between 105 per cent and 110 per cent is 'above normal'; and more than 110 per cent is considered 'excess' precipitation.India saw 934.8 mm of rainfall in 2024, 108 per cent of the average and the highest since 2020. In 2023, it recorded 820 mm, 94.4 per cent of the average. In 2022, it saw 925 mm; 870 mm in 2021; and 958 mm in 2020, according to IMD data.The monsoon is crucial for India's agriculture sector, which supports the livelihood of about 42 per cent of the population and contributes 18.2 per cent to the country's GDP. It is also essential for replenishing the reservoirs critical for drinking water and power generation across the country.