Monsoon likely to hit Kerala coast on June 5

New Delhi: After missing its normal date of onset, Southwest Monsoon is now expected to hit Kerala coast on June 5.

Though the normal date for onset of monsoon over Kerala is June 1, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted that it will hit the southern state on May 30 this year.

June 1 also marks the official onset of rains in the country.

"Monsoon is likely to hit the Kerala coast on June 5," Union Minister of Earth Sciences Harsh Vardhan Tuesday said.

"Conditions are becoming favourable for the onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala around June 5," said an IMD statement. Last year too, monsoon was delayed and hit the Kerala coast on June 6.