This piece of forecast from the India Meteorological Department and the European Centre for Medium-Range weather Forecasts may bring cheer to Indian farmers, who have been reeling under hostile weather conditions during the past few months.
After fears of global warming spread a pal of gloom across the farmlands in the country, the IMD has forecast early monsoon showers lashing the country's coasts.
According to IMD, the southwest monsoon has set in over parts of southeast Bay of Bengal, the Nicobar Islands and the Andaman Sea on Thursday, at least eight days ahead of schedule.
In its update, the IMD said conditions were favourable for the monsoon's further advancement over some more parts of Andaman Sea and southeast Bay of Bengal during the next 48 hours.
The Bay of Bengal arm of monsoon normally breaks around May 18-20, followed 10-12 days later by the counterpart Arabian Sea arm along the southwest coast of the mainland. The onset over intervening Sri Lanka takes place roughly midway between.
The anticipated low-pressure area is likely to form over east central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman Sea within the next 24 hours, the IMD said.
According to ECMWF, the 'low pressure area' will later move in a north-northeast direction and make a landfall along the West Bengal coast by May 17.
The larger trough of `low'