Monsoon enters Kerala. It has a 4,000-km-long journey across India ahead

The southwest monsoon has officially reached the Kerala coast on June 4. Learn about the weather conditions and the path this seasonal system will take across India.

In Short

• Southwest monsoon officially hits Kerala coast on June 4, 2026.
• Strong westerly winds and convective clouds triggered the seasonal rain.
• Monsoon expected over Goa, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh soon after.

The southwest monsoon officially reached the Kerala coast on June 4, marking its triumphant arrival on the Indian mainland.

While this year marks a slight delay of three days against the usual onset date, the atmosphere is electric with the promise of rain across the nation.

WHAT TRIGGERED THE RAINS?

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has identified several key atmospheric ingredients that paved the way for this year's arrival.

First, we witnessed increased convective cloudiness over the southeast Arabian Sea. In simpler terms, this means massive, vertical clouds formed due to rising warm, moist air, which are the primary engines for heavy rainfall.

Additionally, strong westerly winds, which are currents of air flowing from the west, have been blowing steadily at speeds of 20 to 25 knots.

These winds are pushing moisture-laden air towards the Indian subcontinent from the sea. When these air masses reach land, they are forced to rise, cool down, and condense, turning into the widespread rainfall we are now seeing across Kerala.

The weather bureau confirmed these conditions met the necessary criteria for a formal onset.

WHERE THE MONSOON HAS REACHED SO FAR

The monsoon is not a static event but a massive, shifting weather system.

It has already covered significant ground, including the entire Lakshadweep islands, parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and large swathes of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

The monsoon front is currently advancing across the southern peninsula and is pushing steadily into the central Bay of Bengal.

This expansion represents a key phase in the seasonal transition across India.

A VAST JOURNEY AHEAD

The monsoon is not a static event but a massive, shifting weather system.

It has already covered significant ground, including the entire Lakshadweep Islands, parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and large swathes of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

Over the next two to three days, the system is expected to push further inland. We can anticipate the rains spreading across the entirety of Goa, and deeper into Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

The northeastern states are also on the radar for the next phase of this seasonal progression.

PROJECTED ARRIVAL DATES

The IMD has provided a roadmap for the further advancement of the monsoon.

Between June 5 and June 7, 2026, conditions are favourable for the monsoon to advance further into some more parts of the central Arabian Sea, the entire state of Goa, and some parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Following this, by June 8 and June 9, 2026, further progress is expected in remaining parts of Tamil Nadu, the Southwest Bay of Bengal, additional parts of the west central, east central, and northeast Bay of Bengal, and some parts of Northeastern states.

This phased progression schedule serves as a critical guide for state disaster management authorities to prepare for potential weather-related events.

CLIMATE CONTEXT

It is worth noting that our weather patterns are currently under the influence of complex global phenomena. Recent data suggests that El Nino conditions, which involve the warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific, are developing.

These shifts often alter global rainfall and temperature patterns.

As we navigate through the coming months, the focus remains on how these oceanic shifts might influence the intensity and distribution of the monsoon rains across the subcontinent.

For now, the arrival of the monsoon brings a much-needed respite from the sweltering heat, signalling the start of the agricultural cycle and replenishing water reservoirs that support the nation.

- Ends