As the temperature gradient strengthens, southwesterly conditions develop across the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Northern Indian Ocean. During April and May, the equatorial land mass over Africa heats, as well. The additive effect of the temperature gradients created over the African continent and Central Asia ensure that the Southwest Monsoon will always be stronger than the Northeast Monsoon.

The Southwest Monsoon begins in June and ramps up through August. The area of strongest winds develops in association with the Somali Low-Level Jet, which develops off the Somalia coast. During the height of the monsoon, persistent gale conditions develop north of 7N off the Somalia coast, with persistent 6-8m seas and swells in the area of highest winds/seas. Near gale to gale southwesterly conditions persist across the Arabian Sea to near 20N and 70E. Figure 1 shows the climatological mean of wind distribution across the Arabian Sea.

Breaking the 2007 monsoon down month by month, the month of June saw stronger conditions than both 2006 and average, and the area of the core extended further south than average. The Somali Jet was displaced southward from average; this is likely due to the presence of Super Cyclone Gonu at the start of the month. July and August, however, were weaker than average, with both slower wind speeds and less areal extent of the core of monsoon conditions.

On the whole, 2007 'started out with a bang', but gradually diminished through the season. 2006 saw a more typical monsoon, with heaviest conditions occurring in the month of July, which is considered to be the climatological peak of the season.