Monsoon rain likely to come early, says weatherman

PATNA: The onset of the Arabian Sea branch of south west (SW) monsoon on the Kerala coast on Sunday and the prevailing favourable condition for the rapid advancement of monsoon wind towards the northern parts of India may help in bringing early rain showers to Bihar, according to Patna Met office.
Met director R K Mukhopadhyay said that although the Arabian Sea branch of south-west monsoon arrived a little late, but the speed at which it has covered almost the whole of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in just one day, is a very good sign.
Mukhopadhyay said that if this favourable condition continues to prevail over the adjoining areas, it is likely to cover the southern areas of Karnataka in the next 48 hours.
The significance of this rapid advancement for people of the state is that "If this type of condition continues for the next few days, monsoon winds may arrive in Bihar by June 18", he said, adding that it is a bit early than the department''s earlier forecast.
The Met director said that another important development that took place in the eastern part of the country was the onset of Bay of Bengal branch of south-west monsoon in parts of Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya on June 5.
He said that this branch, in just four days, has covered almost the entire eastern India and has reached Jalpaiguri in sub-Himalayan West Bengal.
It is likely to reach east Bihar, particularly Purnia in the next two days if there is no dramatic change in the prevailing weather conditions, Mukhopadhyay said.