NEW DELHI, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The southwest monsoon is likely to get delayed further by a week than the usual date and hit India's southern state of Kerala coast only on June 8, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has stated.

The onset of monsoon was earlier forecast by June 6, whereas the normal onset date for monsoon over Kerala was June 1.

"It is very likely to shift northwards gradually leading to favourable conditions for onset of Southwest Monsoon over Kerala around June 8. Conditions are likely to become favourable for advance of southwest monsoon into some parts of northeastern states during next 3-4 days," the IMD said in its monsoon bulletin.

Certain parts of the country are reeling under severe heat wave conditions, with temperatures crossing 50 degrees Celsius in some parts.