Monsoon to arrive early but El Nino set to undercut rainy season in India

The southwest monsoon is expected to arrive over Kerala on May 26, nearly six days earlier than normal. This early arrival generally brings hope of relief from heat and a good farming season, as nearly half of India's farmland depends on rainfall instead of irrigation. However, weather agencies and climate scientists warn that a developing pattern in the Pacific Ocean, known as El Nino, could weaken the overall monsoon later in the season.