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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 Degree Celsius ; Min: 18 Degree Celsius
Summer Max: 33 Degree Celsius ; Min: 27 Degree Celsius
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
millimeters) 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 metrological centers recording
about 25 rainy days.
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