As expected, the landfall of a weakened super-typhoon ‘Lan’ over southern Japan on Monday removed the last obstacle in the way of the North-East monsoon, headed for the Indian peninsula.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) declared that the ‘monsoon in reverse’ would set in over the South by Thursday after its predecessor — the South-West monsoon — signs out during the two intervening days.
This is a week behind the usual October 15-20 timeline.
A home-spun depression in the Bay that has since faded out over Bangladesh and the super-typhoon ‘Lan’ had combined to upset the schedule this year.
Arrival of the season In its forecast for Tuesday, the IMD said that thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning, would line up over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the usual light-and-sound show that heralds the North-East monsoon.
Heavy rain is expected to lash parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry a day after, on Thursday, signalling the arrival of the North-East monsoon season.
The rains are expected to spread over South Interior Karnataka and Rayalaseema the next day.