Monsoon hits Kerala, in Lucknow on 28th

LUCKNOW: Monsoon hit the Kerala coast on Saturday, a week behind schedule, marking the official commencement of the four-month rainfall season in the country. The water-laden winds may lag further and reach Uttar Pradesh 8-10 days late and arrive in June last week.
State Met officials said normal dates of monsoon arrival in UP and its capital are June 15 and June 18, respectively, but since it has hit Kerala eight days late, it would arrive in UP between June 23 and 25 if its advancement continues at normal speed.It will hit east UP first and cover Varanasi by June 24-26, Allahabad by June 27-28 and Lucknow only by June 28-29, the officials added.
Monsoon enters UP from two directions, with the Bay of Bengal branch entering through Ballia and the Arabian Sea stream through Lalitpur district of Bundelkhand.
The Bay of Bengal branch reaches earlier than the one from Arabian Sea.
State Met director J P Gupta said, "As of now, it appears that monsoon will reach UP by last week of June. However, if a strong cyclonic circulation develops over the Bay of Bengal, the advancement could be faster."
The Met department maintains that monsoon will be normal this year. The news augurs well for country as large parts have been witnessing agriculture distress and water levels in reservoirs have been receding.