Monsoon to keep its date with Andamans in 3 days

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Conditions are becoming favourable for the onset of monsoon over the Andaman sea within three-four days. The Indian Meteorological Department has informed that advancement of monsoon is expected over Andaman sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal within a week. Strengthening of south-westerly winds, persistent rainfall and cloud formation, surge in cross-equatorial monsoon flow are some of the criteria for declaring the onset of monsoon over the Andaman. IMD has predicted the onset of monsoon over Andaman on May 20. However, IMD officials stated that a model error of seven days was expected. The All India Weather Bulletin issued by IMD on Monday stated that conditions are becoming favourable for the onset of monsoon over Andaman within 3-4 days. K Santhosh, director of IMD, Thiruvananthapuram, stated that there was no one-to-one co-relation between onset of monsoon over Andaman and Kerala. The delay in advancement of monsoon might not delay the onset of monsoon in the state, he said. As per the IMD forecast, monsoon will have its grand entry in the state by June 1. A model error of four days is expected.“The southwest monsoon normally advances over Andaman Sea around May 20 with a standard deviation of about one week. The inter-tropical convergence zone is showing signs of organisation and the cross- equatorial monsoon flow is expected to appear over Andaman sea within the next few days resulting in increased rainfall activity over the area. The monsoon is likely to advance over Andaman sea slightly later than its normal date but well within one standard deviation. Past data suggests absence of any one to one association between the date of monsoon advance over Andaman Sea and the date of monsoon onset over Kerala or with the seasonal rainfall over the country,” IMD release stated on the advancement of monsoon over Andaman.