New Delhi: The southwest monsoon officially arrived in Kerala on Saturday, marking the earliest onset over the Indian mainland since 2009, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced. This year’s early arrival on May 25 comes ahead of the usual onset date of June 1.
The last time the monsoon arrived this early was in 2009, when it reached Kerala on May 23. IMD data shows previous onset dates as May 30 in 2024, June 8 in 2023, May 29 in 2022, June 3 in 2021, June 1 in 2020, and May 29 in 2018.
Despite the early arrival, meteorologists cautioned that there is no direct correlation between the onset date and the overall monsoon rainfall. The monsoon’s progression and distribution across the country depend on a complex interplay of global, regional, and local climatic factors.
The IMD, in its April forecast, predicted above-normal rainfall for the 2025 season, ruling out El Niño conditions, which are typically associated with below-average rainfall in India.
Rainfall in India is classified based on the long-period average (LPA) of 87 cm. Rainfall between 96% and 104% of this average is considered normal. In 2024, India recorded 934.8 mm of rainfall—108% of the LPA—making it the highest since 2020. Comparatively, the country received 820 mm in 2023 (94.4%), 925 mm in 2022, 870 mm in 2021, and 958 mm in 2020.
The monsoon is vital for India’s agriculture sector, which sustains around 42% of the population and contributes 18.2% to the GDP. It also plays a critical role in replenishing reservoirs used for drinking water and hydroelectric power generation
