India, May 24 -- Monsoon have arrived over Kerala, earlier than the usual date of June 1, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday morning. This year the state sees the "earliest onset over the Indian mainland since 2009, when it began on May 23," according to IMD data.

A well marked low pressure area over east central Arabian Sea off south Konkan coast concentrated into a depression and lay centered over east central Arabian Sea and adjoining south Konkan coast.

It is likely to move nearly eastwards and cross south Konkan coast between Ratnagiri and Dapoli as a depression during forenoon of Saturday and in association with this system rainfall has increased over Kerala, according to IMD.

IMD follows a set of criterio...