Northeast Monsoon Sets In Over the South Peninsula Five Days Early

14 October 2026National

The Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, announced on 14 October that the northeast monsoon would set in over the south peninsula on 15 October, about five days ahead of the normal 20 October onset date for coastal and south interior Tamil Nadu, with the southwest monsoon withdrawing completely from the country the same day. Two upper-air cyclonic circulations - one over central Kerala near 4.5 km above mean sea level and another over the Comorin area up to about 1.5 km - triggered the onset. An orange alert covered Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram and Karaikal. The northeast monsoon supplies about 48% of Tamil Nadu's annual rainfall.

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The northeast monsoon, also called the retreating or winter monsoon, runs from October to December and is the main rainfall season for Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Kerala and south interior Karnataka | The India Meteorological Department was founded in 1875 and works under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, with headquarters in New Delhi | IMD issues colour-coded warnings - green, yellow, orange and red - with orange meaning 'be prepared'

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