Climate in Kerala
Kerala, the land surrounded by the pristine waters of the Arabian Sea,
has an equable climate that varies from season to season.
The presence of the Western Ghats on the eastern side of the state and
across the path of the southwest monsoon creates an important climatic
zone with copious rainfall on the windward side and a dry belt on the
lee side in the east.
The Climate of Kerala can be clasified roughly into three categories.
The summer in Kerala lasts from March to May and is followed by the
southwest monsoon spell lasting until the middle of October. The
northeast monsoons take over the relay around this time and linger on
till the month of February.
Climate
Temprature
Even at the height of the monsoons, the temperature rarely dips below a
pleasant 18 degrees c. It has a warm and pleasant tropical monsoon
climate with seasonally excessive rainfall.
The climate is pleasant from September to February, which is also the
peak tourist season. The summer months are warm and humid with a mean
max temperature of about 33 degree c.
Temperature
Winter Max: 21?C ; Min: 18?C
Summer Max: 33?C ; Min: 27?C
Rainfall
Kerala
is blessed with plentiful rain, 54% to 85% of which is contributed by
the monsoons. Monsoons bring to Kerala two rainy seasons-the southwest
monsoon or the Edavappathi, bringing rains during June-September, and
the north east monsoon or the Thulavarsham during October to December.
Kerala is directly exposed to the southwest monsoon but also receives
rain from the reverse (northeast) monsoon. Rainfall averages about 118
inches (3,000 millimetres) annually statewide, with some slopes
receiving more than 200 inches.
The north east monsoon season begins from the middle of October and
lasts upto the end of February, though the rain associated with it
ceases by December. The total annual rainfall in the state varies from
380 cms over the extreme northern parts to about 180 cms to the south.
The amount of rainfall decreases towards the south almost in proportion
with the decrease in altitude of the Western Ghats. July receives the
maximum rainfall with all meterological centres recording about 25 rainy
days.
