Heavy rainfall exceeding seven cm is expected to occur in isolated places in Kerala and Lakshadweep by Saturday, and the monsoon was likely to arrive in the southern state in the next 48 hours, weather officials said on Thursday.
In its Thursday night update on the forecast, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) also said strong winds with speeds reaching 45-55 km per hour were likely to occur off the Kerala and Lakshadweep coasts in the next 24 hours till Friday afternoon.
However, unlike Wednesday evening when heavy showers lashed the state, Thursday was hot as the sun shone brightly, and there was very little rain in the capital city.
"Rainfall activity over Kerala has increased. Wind flow over the southeast Arabian Sea is also becoming favourable," IMD director K. Santhosh told IANS.
"The conditions continue to be favourable for the onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala in the next 48 hours," he said.