Goa, May 26 -- In a significant weather development, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced the early arrival of the southwest monsoon over Goa on Sunday-almost 12 days ahead of its usual onset date of June 5. This marks the earliest monsoon arrival in the state since 2006, when it hit on May 20.

The monsoon reached Goa within just 24 hours of its onset over Kerala, making it one of the fastest progressions in recent years. IMD Goa confirmed that the southwest monsoon has now advanced over the entire state of Goa, parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra, and sections of northeastern states including Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland.

"This is the fastest monsoon arrival in the past 19 years," said IMD Goa scientist Naushad Kulkarni...