Just in: The Indian Meteorological Department on Wednesday formally announced that the eagerly anticipated south-west monsoon had made its appearance over the Andaman-Nicobar Islands. Despite its relatively accurate prediction last week that the monsoon would hit Nicobar in four days time, the IMD on Sunday said the monsoon over Kerala, whose normal date of arrival is June 1 and accounts in excess of 75 per cent of the country's rainfall, was likely to be delayed by a week till June 7, with a model error of plus or minus four days.


As per the IMD's criteria, the monsoon is said to be have "well and truly arrived' if at least 60 percent of the stations in Kerala record 2.5 mm of rain for two continuous days.The announcement is more of a symbolic palliative for drought-ravaged parts of Maharashtra and the country as a delay over Kerala -- even if one does occur -- does not imply that the monsoon will be likewise behind schedule in other parts of the country as well.