Thursday, May 26 2005 22:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The conditions are conducive for onset of in Andamans, which could receive rainfall in the next 48 hours, Indian Meteorological Department said in New Delhi today (May 26, 2005). "Conditions are conducive for the arrival of monsoon in the Andamans in the next 48 hours," IMD sources here said.

The southwest monsoon usually sets in over the south Andaman sea on May 15 and reaches the southern State of Kerala on June 1, they said.

They, however, maintained that monsoon would hit Kerala on June 7, a week after its scheduled date.

Weather officials also said a low pressure area was developing over southern India, which could help the monsoon move towards the land.

Earlier, the Met Department had predicted near normal monsoon this year.