North-East Monsoon expected to arrive on Monday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The North-East Monsoon is likely to hit the state on Monday. Though delayed by four days, conditions are favourable for the onset of North-East monsoon in two days, Met sources said.South-West monsoon, which is yet to withdraw from the state, will recede simultaneously. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted fairly widespread thundershowers over south peninsular India till Wednesday.According to Met director K Santhosh, strong easterly winds would start blowing from Bay of Bengal within two days. The easterly wind will carry moisture from the Bay of Bengal bringing rainfall to the southern peninsular region.The upper air cyclonic circulation could be seen 3.1 km above sea-level. Meanwhile, the South-West monsoon is in a transition phase,” he said. Met Department has predicted widespread rain with thunderstorm in the coming days.The state has been receiving afternoon thundershowers, a characteristic of North- East monsoon, in the last few days. However, the South-West monsoon has not fully withdrawn from the state. The normal date of the onset of North-East monsoon is October 20.Last year, the onset date was October 26.During South-West monsoon, winds carrying moisture from the Arabian Sea bring rains, while the moisture from Bay of Bengal carried by easterly winds bring rains to the state during the N-E monsoon period.The state receives 48 cm rainfall normally during this season (October-December). There was 56 percent excess rainfall last year. The IMD expects excess rainfall this year too.