Thiruvananthapuram, June 3 (IANS): The monsoon may hit Kerala within 48 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday.

The temperature in several parts of the state rose on Tuesday during the day. But on Wednesday evening, dark clouds formed at many places, suggesting possible rains.

An IMD official forecast rains across Kerala in the next 24 hours. Fishermen have been warned about winds blowing 45 to 55 km an hour on the coast.

The IMD earlier said that the southwest monsoon would set over Kerala on May 30, with a model error of plus or minus four days.

Weather officials are analysing the data recorded at 14 weather stations located at the Lakshadweep, Kerala and Mangalore in Karnataka.

The onset of monsoon is declared on the basis of amount of rain received at these 14 stations. Wind and cloud formations are other indicators.

In the last three years, monsoon rains began in Kerala in the first week of June. From 2006 till 2011, the onset was in the last week of May.