New Delhi: India's long-awaited rainy season is knocking early at the door. The southwest monsoon, the country's primary rain-bearing system, is expected to make landfall over Kerala on May 26, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced Friday.

The onset normally occurs around June 1, but this year's arrival is forecast nearly a week in advance, marking the official transition from scorching summer to the wet season.

The IMD noted conditions are already favourable for the monsoon's advance over the South Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, and Nicobar Islands within 24 hours. Once it sweeps into Kerala, the system will gradually move northward, bringing relief from intense heat and replenishing reservoirs across the country.

Last year, the rains arrived on May 24, but meteorologists caution that an early onset does not guarantee strong or timely progress. In fact, India may face below-normal rainfall this season, with projections of 80 cm compared to the long-period average of 87 cm. The weaker outlook is linked to emerging El Niño conditions, known to suppress rainfall over the subcontinent.