About the Monsoons 2012.

Thiruvananthapuram, May 15: 

The South-West monsoon is expected to break over Kerala coast on June 1, says the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

A model error of plus or minus four days is assumed on the date of the onset, the IMD said in its forecast outlook issued on Tuesday.

JUNE ONSET

This is the second time in the last seven years that the onset date should get pushed into June.

In 2005, the forecast date was pushed well beyond the first week to June 10; but the actual onset happened three days in advance.

Rest of the years saw forecast onset dates fall into the last week of May, even to the last day. The actual onsets have come about up to four days in advance.

All available indicators and forecasts had in fact suggested that this year the onset of seasonal rains would take place around the normal time.

This, however, is not an indicator to the ultimate performance of the monsoon over the country across time or spatial scales.

ANDAMANS ONSET

In its onset outlook, the IMD seemed to suggest that the onset over Andaman Sea, which preceded that over Kerala by a fortnight or so, might be slightly delayed.

From Andaman, the monsoon rain hits Sri Lanka (five days ahead) before lashing mainland India over Kerala, along the southwest coast.

Monsoon normally advances over Andaman Sea around May 20 with a standard deviation of about one week.

The cross equatorial monsoon flow is expected to appear over Andaman Sea within next few days resulting increased rainfall activity over the area.

- excerpt fromhttp://www.thehindubusinessline.com

Praful Rao