The advance of the southwest monsoon over the Indian mainland is marked by monsoon onset over Kerala and is an important indicator characterising the transition from the hot and dry season to the rainy season

In its latest All India Weather Summary and Forecast Bulletin issued on May 15, the weather department also noted that a well-marked low-pressure area persists over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal, along with an associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level