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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.
TEMPERATURE
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. Neriyamangalam in Ernakulam
district records the highest amount of rainfall 104 cms.