At the same time, the weather agency has maintained that overall rainfall for the season could remain below normal.

Weather conditions over the Indian Ocean region are beginning to signal the active phase of the southwest monsoon, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirming its early advancement across multiple maritime zones. The system has already covered the Andaman Sea, Nicobar Islands, and parts of the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.

The IMD stated that favourable atmospheric conditions are supporting further movement of the monsoon over the next few days. Expansion is likely over the south-eastern Arabian Sea as well as additional regions of the Bay of Bengal between the south-west and east-central zones.

Officials highlighted that all required meteorological parameters for monsoon progression are currently in place, indicating a steady seasonal transition. The movement also includes sections of the Andaman Islands, where rainfall activity linked to monsoon onset has already been observed.

Traditionally, the southwest monsoon reaches Kerala around June 1, marking the official beginning of India’s rainy season. However, the IMD had earlier projected a possible arrival in Kerala around May 26 this year, suggesting a slightly early progression.

At the same time, the weather agency has maintained that overall rainfall for the season could remain below normal. This outlook is linked to the possible development of El Niño conditions, which are typically associated with weaker monsoon performance across India.

The coming days will be crucial in determining how quickly the system strengthens and moves toward the Indian mainland.