Monsoon Arrives In Kerala In Earliest Onset Since 2009, IMD Says

The southwest monsoon has arrived in Kerala in its earliest onset since at least 2009, India’s weather forecaster said, in relief from the record-setting summer that parts of the subcontinent have seen so far this year.

“Southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala today, 24 May 2025, against the normal date of 1 June. Thus, southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala 8 days before the normal date,” India Meteorological Department said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.

“This is the earliest date of monsoon onset over Kerala after the year 2009 when it set in over Kerala on 23 May 2009," it further added.

Kerala and several other southern states, including Karnataka, have experienced heavy rainfall over the past two days, driven by favourable monsoon conditions and a developing low-pressure system.

On Friday, IMD issued warnings for heavy to very heavy rainfall in several areas of Kerala and Karnataka over the coming days. In Friday's weather bulletin released at 4:30 pm, the IMD forecasted significant rainfall in these regions from May 23 to May 29.

“Fairly widespread to widespread light or moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds speed reaching 40-50 kmph with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall likely over Kerala, Karnataka during May 23-29,” the weather agency said.