- By Vaidika Thapa
- Wed, 27 May 2026 11:49 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Monsoon 2026: India is closely watching the progress of the southwest monsoon as it advances after fully establishing over Sri Lanka. As Sri Lanka lies just south of India, the monsoon reaching there usually means it is strong enough to move towards Kerala within a few days.
Monsoon Heads Toward India
The wait for the monsoon has increased as northern India continues to face intense heatwave conditions, while southern states are experiencing rising humidity due to pre-monsoon activity. Also, the monsoon has already missed its expected onset date in Kerala, which was earlier forecast around May 26. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has now suggested a possible delay of three to four days, with the onset likely shifting to early June.
When Is Onset Expected In Kerala?
The normal arrival date for the monsoon over Kerala is June 1, marking its official entry into the Indian mainland. However, in the past, it has sometimes arrived earlier in May, raising expectations of an early onset. According to IMD’s weather bulletin, as of Wednesday, the southwest monsoon has further advanced into more parts of Arabian Sea, parts of the Lakshadweep area, and several regions of the Bay of Bengal, including the Andaman Sea and west-central Bay of Bengal.
The weather department stated that conditions are favourable for the monsoon to move further into more areas of the Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep, and different parts of the Bay of Bengal over the next 2-3 days. According to the latest observation on the Monsoon map, the system has already covered parts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and is gradually moving northward over the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
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The southwest monsoon is now likely to reach Kerala between May 28 and June 3, depending on the development of weather conditions over the Arabian Sea.