Monsoon ahead of schedule over northwest India:

New Delhi: According to the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) latest analysis, conditions are favourable for further advance of monsoon into some more parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh during next two-three days.

The latest analysis of global Numerical Weather Prediction model indicates possibility of advance of monsoon well ahead of its normal schedule over northwest India including Delhi.

This year monsoon set in over south Andaman Sea on May 10, about five days earlier than the normal date, reported IMD. It set in over Kerala on May 31, very near to its normal date on June 1. It advanced further rapidly and covered parts of south peninsula and entire northeastern States by June 2.

It reached Mumbai on June 7 (three days earlier than normal date of June 10 for the city). It maintained its rapid northward progression along the west coast and reached southern parts of Gujarat on June 10 (five days ahead of the normal date). Northward advance of monsoon over east and central India has been near its normal time.

On June 12, it has covered West Bengal and Sikkim, Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and parts of east Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. In the peninsula, it has covered entire Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. As on today, June 12, 2008, Northern Limit of Monsoon (NLM) passes through Lat 23°N/Long 60°E, Lat 23°N/Long 65°E, Okha, Rajkot, Surat, Nasik, Hoshangabad, Satna, Allahabad, Gorakhpur and Nautanwa.

Advance of this year's monsoon is much more smooth and rapid as compared to that of last year as in the last year, it was marked by a hiatus of about one week over south peninsula.

Rainfall during this year's monsoon (till June 11) has been very good and well distributed as compared to the last year. Out of the 36 meteorological sub-divisions, 30 have received normal/excess rainfall this year compared to only 13 last year.