The fragrance of rain soaked earth is delayed in Kerala. As people wait for the monsoon to arrive, weather models have once again pushed back the expected onset date, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to revise its forecast.
This delay in monsoon is raising concerns among the farmers, businesses and weather watchers across the country. The IMD had initially predicted that the monsoon would reach Kerala on May 26, earlier than its normal onset date of June 1. However the shift in the climate conditions have forced forecasters to revise the expected arrival date multiple times. According to the latest update, the monsoon is now likely to make its onset over Kerala within the next two to three days.
Meteorologists point out that the delay could be possible because of the weak westerly winds over the Arabian Sea. While Kerala and nearby regions have already received rainfall, the specific criteria required for the official onset of the monsoon have not yet been fully satisfied.
For IMD to declare the monsoon approach over Kerala, some conditions must be met, which include widespread rainfall across designated weather stations, adequate wind strength and favourable cloud cover patterns.
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Experts said that a cyclone over the Bay of Bengal earlier disturbed the organised wind flow needed for the monsoon’s advance. Which resulted in the timeline shift despite the presence of moisture and pre-monsoon showers across Kerala and Lakshadweep.
Revised Monsoon Timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Initial IMD Forecast | May 26, 2026 |
| First Revised Estimate | Around May 28 |
| Latest Expected Onset | June 3–5, 2026 |
The delay is there in front of our eyes, but IMD cleared that the delay doesn’t mean a weak monsoon season for the rest of the country. Weather officials continue to monitor conditions and expect the system to strengthen in the coming days.
