Early Southwest Monsoon arrival expected in Kerala as IMD forecasts heavy rain
NEW DELHI May 18,2026 — The India Meteorological Department has announced that the Southwest Monsoon is likely to set in over Kerala on May 26, arriving six days ahead of its normal onset date of June 1.
Weather officials have issued warnings for heavy rainfall across several regions, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Coastal Karnataka, Kerala, and Mahe. Similar heavy downpours are also anticipated in Lakshadweep, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, South Interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal.