Southwest Monsoon 2025: IMD Says Arrival On Track, Eyes On Movement In Next Four Days

The advancement of the southwest monsoon is on track as widespread moderate to heavy rainfall continued over the Nicobar Islands for the second day on Tuesday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The southwest monsoon typically reaches this region around May 22, but this year it has arrived earlier than usual.

Sharing an update on the arrival of monsoon on May 13, the IMD highlighted that westerly winds have strengthened over the south Bay of Bengal, Nicobar Islands and Andaman Sea.

"The strength and depth of westerly wind increased continuously during the past two days over parts of the south Bay of Bengal, the Nicobar Islands and the Andaman Sea. The westerly wind speed at 1.5 km above mean sea level is above 20 knots and the depth of westerly wind over some parts of the south Bay of Bengal, Nicobar Islands and some parts of the Andaman Sea is up to 4.5 km above mean sea level," the weather agency explained.

A decrease in 'Outgoing Longwave Radiation' was also recorded, which is a key sign of monsoon activity strengthening in the region. Considering all the above satisfied criteria, the southwest monsoon has advanced into some parts of the south Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, and Nicobar Islands, according to the IMD.

The weather forecaster said that these indicators highlighted that these conditions are favourable for further advance of the southwest monsoon. This means that during the next three to four days, parts of the south Arabian Sea, the Maldives and the south Bay of Bengal will witness the southwest Monsoon progression. Further, the monsoon would have fully advanced on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the remaining parts of the Andaman Sea. Some parts of the central Bay of Bengal will also witness similar weather conditions.

Generally, the southwest monsoon hits the Kerala coast on June 1. This year, the monsoon is expected to arrive earlier in Kerala on May 27, the weather body said last week. Based on the trends, the southwest monsoon is expected to cover most parts of India by the first 10 days of July.

In its latest weather bulletin, at 8 a.m. on May 14, the IMD predicted rainfall and hailstorms in some parts of India this week. An upper air cyclonic circulation over Northeast Assam and neighbourhood is likely to result in widespread to moderate rainfall in northeastern states during the next four days.

Moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms is likely over Goa and Madhya Maharashtra till May 17. Telangana, Interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will also likely get scattered rainfall till May 17. The IMD has also issued a hailstorm warning for Telangana till May 15.

Between May 14 and May 17, scattered moderate rainfall-like conditions are likely in Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Sikkim and Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand. Uttarakhand will receive rainfall from May 16-19, the weather agency said.