india

Updated: May 19, 2019 16:35 IST

The southwest monsoon, critical for India’s economy, finally arrived in Nicobar islands on Saturday with conditions favourable for its further advancement, said India Meteorological Department (IMD) in a statement issued on Saturday.

According to IMD officials, the monsoon’s arrival at Andaman sea was as per schedule though its entry into Kerala may be delayed till June 6.

In an official statement, IMD said, “In view of strengthening and deepening of cross equatorial flow and enhanced cloudiness and rainfall in association with a cyclonic circulation at mid ­tropospheric levels over Andaman sea, southwest monsoon has advanced into south Andaman sea, some parts of South Bay of Bengal and Nicobar islands, today, May 18, 2019. Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of South Bay of Bengal, North Andaman sea and Andaman islands during the next 3­-4 days.”

Anupam Kashyapi, head of weather, IMD, said, “In the next two to three days, monsoon will cover further Andaman area. After crossing Andaman, there is a chance of delay in the advancement of monsoon. As forecast earlier, monsoon will hit Kerala on June 6.”

Presently, conditions are favourable for further advancement of southwest monsoon into some parts of southwest Bay of Bengal, parts of southeast Bay of Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar islands and some parts of east-central Bay of Bengal during the next few days, according to IMD. Meanwhile, the weather department has predicted heatwave warning for Pune and parts of Maharashtra for three days from Monday.

The city recorded a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius on Saturday.

Pune city and parts of central Maharashtra have witnessed rise in daily maximum temperature since the last few days. For the next two days, IMD Pune issued a ‘near to heatwave’ warning for the city.

Elaborating reasons behind the heatwave, Kashyapi said, “As a result of no strong system presence over the state, there is a chance of heatwave condition in Pune and adjoining parts of central Maharashtra.”