India Met Department has declared that the North-East monsoon has set in over Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh and south Karnataka.
The declaration came to the accompaniment of reports of heavy to very overnight rain over Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Simultaneously, the southwest monsoon made a hasty retreat from its position yesterday, exiting the south peninsula and the whole country in the process.
During the 24 hours ending this morning, Kochi received very heavy rainfall of 17 cm topping the charts, while Puducherry (13 cm) and Chennai recorded 11 cm, according to the Met.
It has forecast similar conditions to prevail over Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep, and south interior Karnataka during the next couple of days.