Normal speed of advancement of Southwest Monsoon

12-May-2025 04:49 PM

Thiruvananthapuram. The Southwest Monsoon, which is expected to become active in India from next month, has arrived at its original place of origin and is advancing at a normal pace.

This year, the monsoon is likely to reach the Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, Lakshadweep Sea, Arabian Sea, coastal areas of Sri Lanka, and the Kerala coast on time. There is also a possibility of good pre-monsoon rainfall across the country.

The airflow across the equatorial region remains smooth, with moist winds moving towards the eastern coast of Africa.

These winds are rapidly carrying moisture from the sea and are expected to gradually reach the Bay of Bengal, then Lakshadweep, and the southeastern Arabian Sea. Eventually, the monsoon winds will move to the southern coast of Kerala via the Sri Lankan coast.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the monsoon is likely to reach the southern Andaman Sea and the adjoining far southeastern Bay of Bengal soon.

Meanwhile, the European Weather Forecasting Center has reported that the monsoon is progressing rapidly with strong southwesterly winds.

In the coming days, the speed of these winds may increase to between 36 and 54 kilometers per hour, which is significantly higher than the usual 15 to 40 kilometers per hour.

A strong wind flow is currently visible over the Bay of Bengal and is expected to persist until at least May 20, supporting the monsoon's advancement.

The Southwest Monsoon is considered the lifeline of Indian agriculture, as it accounts for nearly 70 percent of the country's total annual rainfall, mainly during the four months from June to September.

This period is crucial for the sowing and development of Kharif crops. During the Kharif season, crops such as paddy, tur, urad, moong, soybean, sesame, groundnut, castor, maize, sorghum, millet, ragi, cotton, and sugarcane are cultivated on a large scale. A favorable monsoon is expected to result in better production of these crops.