After Reaching Sri Lanka, Monsoon Now Set to Advance Towards India

27-May-2026 05:48 PM

New Delhi. After overcoming certain obstacles and challenges, the Southwest Monsoon has now reached Sri Lanka and is poised to advance from there towards India's southern state—Kerala—over the next few days. Although the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had projected May 26 as the date for the monsoon's arrival on the southern coast of Kerala, it failed to arrive on that day due to certain oceanic disturbances.

It is noteworthy that the monsoon typically reaches Sri Lanka by May 20–22; however, this time around, its arrival there was delayed by at least six days. Since Sri Lanka serves as the monsoon's final staging post before entering India, its arrival in Sri Lanka implies that it will inevitably reach India in the subsequent phase, as all impediments along its path have now dissipated.

Nevertheless, it typically takes the monsoon approximately one week to travel from Sri Lanka to India. Should this pattern hold true this time as well, the monsoon is unlikely to reach India before the first week of June.

Although the flow of the supportive south-westerly winds—integral to the monsoon—is currently active, it remains somewhat weak, and its velocity appears sluggish. The expected intensity of this wind flow is currently absent along the Kerala coast.

According to meteorological experts, atmospheric circulation conditions are expected to become significantly more favorable by June 2–3, thereby clearing the path for the monsoon's arrival.

At that juncture, the flow of the south-westerly and westerly winds—which facilitate and propel the monsoon forward—is expected to intensify. A vigorous surge of these winds towards the Kerala coast is anticipated. These winds are considered conducive to the monsoon's progression.

All in all, the projected timeline for the monsoon's arrival in India has now shifted from May to June. The Meteorological Department may soon issue a revised forecast regarding this development.