Bhubaneswar, May 30: The Southwest Monsoon has arrived early over Kerala this year, setting in on Thursday and advancing into parts of North-East India, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). 

While the monsoon usually sets in over Kerala on June 1 and progresses to North-East India in the following days, favorable conditions have led to an earlier onset this year, attributed in part to Cyclone Remal, which formed over the Bay of Bengal last week.

The IMD predicts that Kerala will receive above-normal monsoon showers, approximately 6 percent more than average this season. Heavy rainfall accompanied by thundershowers is expected to affect most parts of the state from this evening or tomorrow until June 2.

Meanwhile, the prevailing heatwave conditions across much of India, with temperatures ranging from 45 to 52 degrees Celsius, are expected to gradually subside. In Odisha, Titilagarh in Bolangir has become the hottest city, reaching 46 degrees Celsius, followed by Jharsuguda at 45.6 degrees, Sambalpur at 45.2 degrees, Hirakud at 44.8 degrees, Rourkela at 43.6 degrees, Keonjhar at 41.2 degrees, and Bhubaneswar at 39.8 degrees.

With the onset of the monsoon, locals are hopeful for relief from the extreme heat. Manorama Mohanty, Director of IMD Bhubaneswar, predicted light to moderate rains with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds on June 1 and 2.

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