The southwest monsoon is likely to withdraw on October 26, the same day when the northeast monsoon is likely to commence over southeast peninsular India, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The northeast monsoon brings in rains mostly to Tamil Nadu, parts of Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala.

“With likely setting in of north-easterly winds in the lower tropospheric levels over the Bay of Bengal and extreme south Peninsular India, the southwest monsoon is likely to withdraw from the entire country around October 26. Simultaneously, the northeast monsoon rains are also likely to commence over the southeast peninsular India from around October 26,” IMD said in a release.

The June-September rains usually withdraw by October 15, but this year the weather pattern saw multiple break phases followed by a surge in rainfall, which pushed the withdrawal timeline and also gave the country its third consecutive year of normal monsoon.

As against the normal date of October 15 when the southwest monsoon completely withdraws from across India, this time the process is delayed. The commencement of withdrawal too had started on October 6 against the normal date of September 17.

The monsoon has already withdrawn from over two-thirds of the entire subcontinent after starting its exit on October 6. Currently, only parts of northeast India and southern peninsular states are left covered.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon withdrawal line continues to pass through Kohima, Silchar, Krishna Nagar, Baripada, Malkangiri, Nalgonda, Bagalkote, Vengurla.

Conditions are becoming favourable for further withdrawal of southwest monsoon from remaining parts of northeast India; entire north Bay of Bengal; remaining parts of West Bengal; some parts of Central Bay of Bengal; remaining parts of Odisha; some parts of Andhra Pradesh; some more parts of Telangana; entire Goa; some more parts of Karnataka and some more parts of Central Arabian Sea around October 23.

Low-pressure systems over Kerala and Tamil Nadu near the Arabian Sea and another over Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coast near the Bay of Bengal had delayed the process, IMD had said earlier.

Because of the low-pressure systems and cyclonic circulations Kerala, Tamil Nadu and parts of Karnataka have experienced heavy to extremely heavy rainfall.

(With IANS inputs)