Scientists, however, have cautioned that an early onset over Kerala cannot be used to predict the advance of the monsoon elsewhere in the country, including Kolkata, where the onset date is usually June 7.
The general perception is that the monsoon could hit West Bengal four to five days earlier. On May 12, the south-west monsoon advanced into the south-eastern Bay of Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the north Andaman Sea — almost eight days earlier than usual. But the early arrival could be a cause of concern for Bengal’s agricultural sector.
“If the rains in the first week are heavy, it could lead to waterlogging in jute fields, causing huge losses to the farmers,” said A K Das, Dean, Agriculture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidhyalaya. “Heavy rainfall could also destroy vegetables like radish and brinjals,” he added.