Monsoon to Hit Odisha in First Week of June as Rains Arrive Early in Kerala

Bhubaneswar, May 24: The southwest monsoon is set to arrive in Odisha in the first week of June, following its early onset over Kerala this year — a full eight days ahead of schedule. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday confirmed that the monsoon reached Kerala on Saturday, marking the earliest arrival since 2009, when it touched the southern coast on May 23.

This premature onset signals the beginning of the four-month rainy season that is critical for India’s agriculture, water security, and economic stability.

Over the past week, Kerala has seen a steady increase in rainfall activity. The IMD uses three main criteria to declare the monsoon's arrival over the state: at least 2.5 mm of rainfall at a minimum of 14 weather stations for two consecutive days; strong, consistent westerly winds up to 600 hectopascals; and Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) values below 200 watts per square meter.

With all indicators in place, the monsoon was officially declared active on Saturday.

As the rains progress northwards, Odisha is expected to see the monsoon's onset in the first week of June — broadly in line with its normal schedule. This is welcome news for farmers across the state, who depend on the seasonal rains to begin sowing key crops such as paddy, pulses, and millets.