The conditions are favourable for advance of the southwest monsoon, which is likely to set in over Kerala only around June 8-10 even as some respite from the intense heat is expected in the worst-hit areas, the weather department said on Tuesday.

Its further advance across the peninsula is likely to be delayed correspondingly, the Indian Meteorology Department said.

"As of May 31, the northern limit of the southwest monsoon was running south of Kerala across Sri Lanka into east central Bay of Bengal," it said.

The monsoon on Tuesday covered some more parts of east central Bay of Bengal, where there is persistent clouding, the IMD said adding conditions are favourable for its further advance towards Kerala in the next two-three days.

The Arabian branch of the southwest monsoon current, however, continues to be weak and has not shown signs of advancing, according to an IMD release.

Pre-monsoon rainfall activity over the peninsula, a precursor to the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala, has been practically absent so far.

A pronounced north-south trough extending from Bihar to Tamil Nadu has generated strong northwesterly winds leading to severe heat wave conditions over parts of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Orissa, the IMD said.

However, this trough is now becoming less pronounced, which is likely to provide some respite from the heat wave.

"There are also indications of the seasonal trough getting organised. This will facilitate the strengthening of the southwesterly winds over the Arabian Sea and the peninsula," it said.

Normally, the monsoon hits Kerala on June one.

The monsoon had entered the South Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on May 16, which is about the normal time.

After that it moved further to cover the whole of the Andaman Sea, parts of south and east central Bay of Bengal, Maldives and nearby areas like the southern parts of Sri Lanka. The initial delay was due to a disturbed circulation pattern over the Bay of Bengal.