Monsoon rains to hit on June 8!

The India Meteorological Department said on Wednesday said the monsoon is likely to be delayed by a week in Kerala and is now expected to hit on June 8.

The IMD in its monsoon bulletin said, "It is very likely to shift northwards gradually leading to favourable conditions for onset of Southwest Monsoon over Kerala around June 8. Conditions are likely to become favourable for advance of southwest monsoon into some parts of northeastern states during next 3-4 days."

While a senior Meteorologist at Skymet was quoted as saying that the normal dates of monsoon for Delhi and its adjoining regions fall in the last week of June. It may, however, be delayed by some 10-15 days.

"This year monsoon will be weak due to El Nino and global warming. We are hopeful that monsoon rains will take place around 93 per cent, which is even lower than the average," he said. The expert further said that this is the second driest year in the last 65 years.