PANAJI
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) declared the onset of the southwest monsoon over Goa on Sunday, almost 12 days ahead of its normal schedule of June 5. This is the earliest since 2006, when monsoon arrived in Goa on May 20.
The monsoon has set over Goa, within 24 hours after its onset over Kerala coast on Saturday, the fastest in recent years.
In a weather update issued, IMD Goa said that the southwest monsoon has further advanced and covered the entire Goa, some parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra and some more parts of Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland on Sunday.
Normally, the southwest monsoon makes its onset over Kerala by June 5.
IMD Goa scientist Naush Kulkarni confirmed southwest monsoon arrival in Goa while informing that this is the fastest arrival in the last 19 years.
“It was last in 2006, when the monsoon hit Goa on May 20,” he said.
Over the last few years, the date of monsoon onset over Goa has varied widely. Last year, monsoon reached the State as early as June 4, while in 2023 it was delayed till June 10. In 2022 too, the monsoon onset was delayed till June 9.
Over the last week, Goa has been experiencing a steady increase in rainfall intensity. State witnessed intense pre-monsoon showers with incidents of water logging, tree felling, etc being reported across the State.
The coastal State has been put on Orange Alert till May 29 and thereafter Yellow Alert on May 30-31, with IMD Goa forecasting heavy to very heavy showers for the State.
With possible gusty winds and rough sea conditions, IMD has asked fishermen not to venture into deep sea during the alert period.
Meanwhile, the depression, after the landfall, has moved eastwards across Madhya Maharashtra and has weakened gradually into a well-marked low pressure area.
