Monsoon likely to hit Kerala coast in next 2-3 days, says IMD

The weather office had earlier expected the monsoon to reach the state by 27 May

- Vijay C. Roy

The southwest monsoon is progressing as per the schedule and is likely to hit the Kerala coast in the next two to three days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.

The weather office has predicted above-average monsoon rains this year, raising expectations of bumper harvests and stronger economic growth in India, which gets nearly 70% of the rain needed to irrigate crops and recharge reservoirs and aquifers from the June-September precipitation.

"The conditions are likely to become favourable for monsoon onset over Kerala during next two to three days," the IMD said in a statement.