The India Meteorological Department said on Thursday that the monsoon is progressing normally and has reached Mumbai and its adjoining areas.
“Southwest Monsoon has advanced into remaining parts of central Arabian Sea, most parts of Konkan (including Mumbai), some parts of Madhya Maharashtra, some more parts of Karnataka,” the IMD said in a statement.
Conditions remain favorable for moving forward monsoon Some more parts of North Arabian Sea, Gujarat State, some parts of Marathwada, some more parts of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh,” the statement further added.
The monsoon contributes about 70 per cent of the country’s annual rainfall and is considered the lifeline of its agrarian economy.
IMD senior scientist RK Jenamani said the monsoon touched the Kerala coast on May 29 and covered the south and central Arabian Sea, parts of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and the entire northeast between May 31 and June 7.
“We have strong monsoon features – strong winds and clouds are beginning to develop for the next two days,” he said.
The scientist said conditions are favorable for further advance of monsoon into Goa and some more parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in the next two days.
The IMD said in an extended range forecast that it is likely to reach Uttar Pradesh between June 16 and June 22.
Since June 1, when the monsoon season begins, the country has received 42 per cent less rainfall, with Northwest India recording a rainfall deficit of 94 per cent.
However, between June 16 and June 22, there is a possibility of above normal rainfall over Northeast, East India (except Odisha) and Northwest India.
The IMD had last month said that the southwest monsoon would be normal and would quantitatively account for 103 per cent of the 50-year average of 87 cm of rainfall received during the entire season.
This will be the seventh consecutive year that the country will receive normal rainfall during the June-September period.