Thulavarsham in Kochi: What the Northeast Monsoon Brings and How to Plan Around It

Thulavarsham is the northeast monsoon, Kerala's second rainy season, which runs from October to December. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), it brings Kerala about 49 cm of rain, roughly 17% of the annual total, and October is its wettest month. Unlike the steady grey downpours of June and July, it usually arrives as afternoon and evening thunderstorms with lightning, which is the thing Kochi residents most need to plan around.

• What is Thulavarsham in Kerala?
• Is Thulavarsham the main rainy season in Kerala?
• When does it start and end?
• How do you stay safe from lightning?
• How should you plan your days in Kochi?

What is Thulavarsham in Kerala?

The name means the rain of Thulam, the Malayalam month that falls roughly between mid-October and mid-November. It is the Malayalam name for the northeast monsoon, when the winds reverse after the southwest monsoon retreats. The rain comes in bursts: the IMD notes it usually falls in spells of about three to four days, often separated by long dry stretches with little or no rain.

Is Thulavarsham the main rainy season in Kerala?

No. The southwest monsoon, Edavappathi, from June to September, brings far more rain. Thulavarsham matters for its own reasons: it tops up wells and reservoirs after the main monsoon, and it is more thunderous. Here is how the two compare:

	Southwest monsoon (Edavappathi)	Northeast monsoon (Thulavarsham)
Months	June to September	October to December
Share of Kerala's rain	The large majority	About 17%, around 49 cm
Wettest month	Usually June or July	October
Typical pattern	Long, steady rain through the day	Afternoon and evening thunderstorms with lightning

October is not a light month either. IMD's long-term figures show central Kerala, which includes Ernakulam, averaging more than 300 mm of rain in October alone. The IMD also counts 20 to 30 or more rainy days across the season in most of Kerala.

When does it start and end?

The IMD's climatological onset date for the northeast monsoon is 22 October, give or take about a week, and the average withdrawal date is 4 January. Those dates are set by rain along the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh coasts, so Kerala can get Thulam-style thunderstorms earlier in October, before the official declaration. Treat all of October to mid-December as the season.

2026 so far: IMD Thiruvananthapuram's figures for 1 June to 26 September 2026 put Kerala's southwest monsoon rain at 1,446.4 mm against a normal of 1,985.4 mm, 27% below normal and classed as deficient. Ernakulam district fared no better, at 1,522.5 mm against a normal of 2,075.1 mm, also 27% below normal and deficient.

How do you stay safe from lightning?

Lightning is the real hazard of this season, and it is the one people take least seriously. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority's advice includes:

• Move indoors to a safe building as soon as you see signs of a storm.
• Stay off terraces and away from trees and high places.
• Keep out of the water: no fishing, boating or bathing when lightning threatens.
• Unplug electrical appliances and keep away from them; avoid landline phones and taps.
• Do not run up to the terrace to bring in the washing.
• If you are in a car, stay inside and keep your hands and feet in.
• Install the government's Damini app to see lightning risk in your area.

The washing point sounds trivial, but it is exactly the kind of habit that puts people on an open roof at the worst moment.

How should you plan your days in Kochi?

Do the outdoor things in the morning. Beach walks, Fort Kochi wanders, ferry rides and anything on the water are best finished by lunch, because the storms tend to build in the afternoon. A sunset cruise in October is a gamble. Carry an umbrella regardless, and keep a close eye on district alerts; our guide to what Kerala's rain alert colours mean explains the yellow, orange and red levels.

For an afternoon that gets washed out, the rainy day things to do in Kochi list still applies, and it is worth saving the Kochi emergency numbers in your phone before the season starts. More in Guides.