Early monsoon active over west coast

Till that phase, monsoon will further advance to remaining parts of north interior Karnataka, some more parts of Konkan including Mumbai and parts of Madhya Maharashtra including Pune in the next 48 hours.

Travelling at 100 km per day, this northward arm of the monsoon is likely to reach Gujarat on June 3. A low pressure area developing over Arabian Sea off Konkan coast is adding to the movement of this northward wave. Heavy wind warnings have been issued to fishermen on the Lakshadweep coast.

In Kerala, six persons were reported to be killed and hundreds rendered homeless as heavy rains and strong winds battered Kerala for the fifth day. Several trains on the Konkan route had to be stopped because of rain and heavy winds.

8216;8216;Some of the models do provide early indications of slight weakening of monsoon current over Arabian Sea beyond this period but strengthening of the current over Bay of Bengal region,8217;8217; said Akhilesh Gupta, spokesperson for National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting.

For the Westward arm to get active, low pressure will need to set in the Bay of Bengal. The Met experts are yet to comment on the formation of this critical aspect of the Indian monsoon. However, it has already rained in North-Eastern states and parts of Sikkim in the last few days. Once the low pressure sets in, it will then begin advancing into the heartland of India through Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, UP and Delhi.

Heat wave conditions are prevailing over parts of south Rajasthan, and northwest Madhya Pradesh where day temperatures are 450C or more. Predictions are suggesting abatement of heat wave from these areas after June 2, due to scattered rainfall activity on June 3 and 4.