Parts of Kerala received modest pre-monsoon rains since last night bringing slight relief from the searing heat. ‘‘Though delayed by few days, the factors are favourable for a normal monsoon this year,’’ Meteorological Centre Director M.D. Ramachandran said.Last year monsoon set in on May 29. But the rainfall received was deficient by 35 per cent of the season’s normal rainfall of 196 cm, he said.According to the weather bureau in Thiruvananthapuram, the wind pattern was weak but was expected to gain strength in the coming days. Reports received by the Met Office showed Cherthala, Alwaye and Minicoy in Lakshadweep received 2 mm each and Amini Island 1.78 mm during the 28 hours ended at 8.30 am today.
