The onset of monsoon could be delayed further by a day to June 7, the India Meteorological Department said Tuesday. On Saturday, private weather forecaster Skymet too revised its forecast from June 4 to June 7.
Last month, announcing the expected day of monsoon arrival over Kerala, India Meteorological Department said it could happen on June 6, with an error margin of plus or minus four days.
"Cross equatorial flow over southern parts of South Arabian Sea and over the Bay of Bengal is likely to increase gradually favouring further advance of southwest monsoon over some more parts of South Arabian sea, Maldives, Comorin area, southwest, southeast and central Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours.
"An eastwest shear zone at 3.1 kilometres above mean sea level is very likely to develop across extreme south peninsula from tomorrow onwards leading to favourable conditions for onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala during the subsequent 72 hours," it said.
Earth Sciences Minister Harsh Vardhan had also indicated that monsoon could hit the Kerala coast on June 6-7.
Several parts of the country are reeling under severe heat waves with temperatures touching 50 degree Celsius in some parts.
Mr Vardhan said monsoon is likely to be 96 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA), which falls on the border line of normal and below normal category.
Kannur Jail Biryani: A Popular Kerala Biryani Made By Inmates At Kannur Central Prison Kerala State Film Awards 2024: Aadujeevitham Secures 9 Awards, Prithviraj Sukumaran Wins Big Kerala Launches 1st Digital Court For Negotiable Instruments Cases Life On Earth Originates From One Ancestor, Older Than Previously Believed Send Reports Every 2 Hours: Centre To States On Kolkata Horror Protests For Debate Against Kamala Harris, Donald Trump Picks This Hindu American 7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Russia, Tsunami Warning Issued Prohibitory Orders In Kolkata Amid Protests Over Doctor's Rape-Murder Gaza Records First Polio Case In 25 Years As UN Urges Vaccinations Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.