The onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala this year is likely to be slightly delayed and set over the region on June 7, the Indian Meteorological Department said on Sunday. The usual date for the onset of the monsoon over Kerala is June 1, according to the IMD, which said that its forecasts have been accurate for the last 11 years, except in 2015. The onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala signals the arrival of the rainy season in the country.

The delay was not an unusual phenomenon, said IMD Director General Laxman Singh Rathore. He added that South Indian states would get some relief from the intense heat as they could receive some rain in the coming days. "Currently there is a low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal, which will become a depression and hit Tamil Nadu coast by tonight. This will bring good amount of rainfall to the state, parts of south interior Karnataka and parts of Kerala," Rathore said.

Private weather forecaster Skymet had said that monsoon will reach Kerala between May 28 and 30. The IMD had earlier said this year's monsoon would be "above normal".