PANJIM: With the Southwest monsoon most likely to hit Kerala on time, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Goa observatory has forecast that monsoon showers will reach the State by the first week of June.
According to the Extended Range Forecast (ERF) released by IMD on Thursday, the monsoon will hit Kerala on the normal date of June 1.
“IMD’s ERF suggests that the monsoon will arrive over Kerala on time, around June 1. This is an early indication,” tweeted M Rajeevan, Secretary, and Ministry of Earth Sciences on Thursday.
IMD Goa officials forecast that the onset of monsoon over Goa coast could be by June 4 or 5. “By June 10, the monsoon will cover the entire Konkan belt. This is an early prediction,” official said.
IMD is slated to release the second stage monsoon Long Range Forecast (LRF) on May 15. By then, the forecasters would have greater confidence to share the precise date of the arrival of the monsoon over the Andaman Sea and its progress to the mainland India.

