New Delhi, May 22 -- The southwest monsoon is progressing as per the schedule and is likely to hit the Kerala coast in the next 2-3 days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.

The IMD has predicted above-average monsoon rains this year, raising expectations of bumper harvests and stronger economic growth in India, which gets nearly 70% of the rain needed to irrigate crops and recharge reservoirs and aquifers from the June-September precipitation.

"The conditions are likely to become favourable for monsoon onset over Kerala during next 2-3 days," IMD said in a statement. The IMD had earlier expected monsoon to reach Kerala by 27 May, with a model error of plus/minus four days. In 2024, the monsoon had reached the co...