Surrounded by the azure waters of the sea and shaded by the leafy coconut trees that surround the entirety of the province of Kerala, a trip to Kerala is the best recipe possible if you are aiming for a dream vacation. Located on the south eastern corner of India, Kerala is the epitome a climate that is tropical with a vengeance. The climate of Kerala changes to some extent with the season and thus, it is essential to know the weather of Kerala while choosing the best time to visit Kerala.
Weather in Kerala
Located near the Tropic of Cancer, most of Kerala has a hot and humid climate with a more than average rainfall as compared to other provinces of India. The weather of Kerala can be divided into 4 seasons, which are winter, summer, south west monsoon and north east monsoon. The summer season in Kerala stretches from the months of February and continues up to May. Temperature remains almost on a constant high throughout the season which is also accompanied by lightning and heavy rainfall.
Summer in Kerala is followed by the South West Monsoon, which lasts from the end of May to September and is characterized by extremely heavy rainfall which brings a welcome relief from the oppressive heat of the summers. October sees the advent of the northeast monsoon which basically signifies the end of the monsoons and is followed by the winter season which arrives in Kerala around the middle of December remaining in the state till around February. Winters are definitely the best time to visit Kerala if you are planning a holiday in Kerala.
The diversity of the geographical features of the state has resulted in a corresponding diversity in climate. The High Ranges have a cool and bracing climate throughout the year, while the plains are hot and humid.
The average level of annual rainfall is quite high when compared to other Indian states, almost three times higher than in Karnataka while twice than in Tamilnadu. The state basically enjoys 4 types of climate such as Winter ,Summer ,South West Monsoon and North East Monsoon .
Winter
The winter season sets in during the month of December and continues till end of February. During this season comparatively there is less rainfall especially in the northern parts of the state.
Summer
Winter is followed by the summer season. Its tarts in February and continues till May. Temperature is very high during this period. Occasional showers with Lightning is a characteristic of this season. Kottayam receives the highest rainfall during this season.
South West Monsoon
The South West Monsoon begins either in the end of May or in the beginning of June and fades out by September. Moving towards north, this seems to gain intensity. During this period Peerumedu in Idukki and Vaithiri-Kuttiyadi range in Malabar receive the highest rainfall. The rainfall is comparatively low in the Lakshadweep islands. In the southern areas the monsoon is around 40-50% and in the northern areas it is around 80%.
North East Monsoon
The NorthEast Monsoon commences in October, dry weather setting in by the end of December. The Kanjirappalli-Peerumedu range and Kuttiyadi area experience the abundance of NorthEast Monsoon. The northern parts of the state account for a mere 10% of the annual rainfall.
Temperature
The annual range of temperature is comparatively low in Kerala. The coastal areas record a maximum temperature of 320c and a minimum of 220c.The interiors record a maximum of 370c during summer. In the coastal area it is hot and humid during April-May while cool during December-January