New Delhi: The conditions are favourable for advance of the South West monsoon, which is likely to set in over Kerala only around June 8-10 even as some respite from intense heat is expected in the areas undergoing severe heat wave conditions, weather department said on June 03.

As the circulation patterns are evolving rather slowly, the South West monsoon is now likely to set in only around June 8-10. Its further advance across the peninsula is likely to be delayed correspondingly, Indian Meteorology Department (IMD) said.

"As of May 31, the northern limit of the South West monsoon was running South of Kerala across Sri Lanka into East Central bay of Bengal," IMD said.

The monsoon on June 3 covered some more parts of East Central bay where there is persistent clouding, IMD said adding conditions are favourable for its further advance towards Kerala in the next two-three days.

The Arabian branch of South West monsoon current, however, continues to be weak and it has not shown signs of advance, according to an IMD release.

IMD said that pre-monsoon rainfall activity over the peninsula, a precursor to the process of South West monsoon onset over Kerala, has been practically absent so far.

PTI