The 2009 monsoon season is underway in Kerala, with the arrival of the south-west monsoon a week earlier than it’s usual date. The southern part of state is currently receiving heavy rainfall.

The monsoon will now make its way across India. Mumbai and the rest of Maharastra isn’t likely to see it until early June though. This is because the presence of cyclone Aila on the east coast of India has weakened the pressure of the monsoon winds, thus slowing its progress.

The cyclone has been producing heavy rainfall, which is expected to continue in West Bengal, Sikkim, and India’s north-eastern states. Kolkata and Darjeeling have been very badly hit, requiring rescue operations to be carried out.

The monsoon is expected to reach Uttar Pradesh, in northern India, by the middle of June.