Kerala - Kochi   

Monsoon, the great Indian guessing game

When will the southwest monsoon hit the Kerala coast?

The whole country is waiting for the answer.And it's that part of the year when the great Indian guessing game on monsoon reaches its crescendo. Though rain pundits predicted May 24 as its arrival date, no signs of the onset were visible anywhere.

No cloudy sky, no croaking of frogs and the usual wind that chaperon raindrops to the land.

The clear blue sky and the sunny day belied at least some of the most seasoned weathermen. As usual.

Now, the next date please... .

The onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala will be delayed by three to four days, announced Indian Meteorological Department on Wednesday.

The reason: Unfavourable weather conditions in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. A typhoon in the Pacific Ocean, changes in some of the meteorological conditions in North India and a depression that was formed in the Head Bay of the Bay of Bengal... . A combination of these factors delayed the onset which was predicted on May 24, reasoned C.K. Rajan, director, Centre for Monsoon Studies of the Cochin University of Science and Technology.

Now situations are becoming favourable for the onset. One can expect it to reach Kerala coast latest by May 28, say weathermen.

Weathermen have explanations for everything related to monsoon. For its arrival and non-arrival and on-time arrival and delayed advent, they have scientific explanations. But monsoon keeps everyone guessing. Without any apparent reason and leaving the commoners and learned ones alike wondering about its vagaries.

The traders, predictably, are the most prepared ones for the season.

Raingears, umbrellas, waterproof schoolbags and rain-wears... . They have stocked everything that you need for the season. Now the choice is yours. The civic administrators are also gearing up to meet the monsoon.

De-silting of the drains is also on as part of the monsoon preparedness.

Now, let it rain.

K.S. Sudhi

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