New Delhi: The South-West monsoon would reach the Nicobar Islands over the next three to four days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted.
According to the Met office, a low pressure trough will develop over south Bay of Bengal and south Andaman Sea, which will be favourable for the onset of the monsoon.
From here, it will normally take another 10 to 12 days to reach Kerala, meaning the monsoon will hit southern state between May 28 and 30, two-three days before its normal onset date of June 1.
"In the next three or four days, the wind flow pattern looks to be in favour of the southwest monsoon in the south Bay of Bengal and south Andaman Sea and the Nicobar islands," PC Rao, scientist at IMD's weather forecast department, said.
An active wind pattern called the inter-tropical convergence zone over the Indian Ocean is the primary cause for the early monsoon onset, the Met office said.
Monsoon is expected to reach Kolkata by June 10 and Mumbai by June 12.
Private forecasting agency Skymet too forecasted early arrival of monsoon this year. It said that nonsoon will arrive over Andaman and Nicobar Islands between May 18 and 20 and is likely to reach Kerala between May 28 and May 30.
"Thereafter, it will cover other parts of the country. Present weather conditions are indicating a promising beginning of Monsoon 2016 which is likely to usher in with a bang," Skymet said.
Monsoon reaching a tad early is expected to provide relief to many parts of country which are reeling under severe heat wave and drought conditions.
The India Meteorological Department, as well as Skymet, have made a forecast of "above normal" monsoon this year.
