OdishaPlus Bureau
Monsoon is likely to reach the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago around May 16, nearly six days before its normal onset date, due to a cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal, the India Meteorological Department said on Wednesday.
The monsoon usually covers the Andaman and Nicobar islands around May 20. The onset date for Andaman and Nicobar was last month revised to May 22. It then normally takes 10-11 days to reach Kerala which marks the commencement of rainfall season in India. However, monsoon is now likely to reach Andaman and Nicobar around May 16. The IMD is also likely to release the possible onset date over Kerala later this week.
A low-pressure area, the first step in the formation of a cyclone, was formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining south the Andaman Sea on Wednesday morning, the IMD said. It is very likely to concentrate into a depression over the central parts of south Bay of Bengal on May 15 and further intensify into a cyclonic storm over southwest and adjoining the west-central Bay of Bengal by the evening of May 16.
“In association with the system (cyclone), the conditions will become favorable for the advance of southwest monsoon over the South Bay of Bengal, the Andaman Sea and Andaman & Nicobar islands around May 16,” the IMD said. Under its influence, adverse weather is likely over the south and central Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea from May 15 onwards. The system is under continuous surveillance and the states are being informed regularly.