Guwahati, May 26 -- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has alerted Assam to expect heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 72 hours as the Southwest Monsoon arrives earlier than usual in parts of India, including the Northeast.

The monsoon reached Kerala on May 24, marking its earliest onset since 2009, when it arrived on May 23. Typically arriving on June 1, this early start also recalls the record earliest monsoon arrival on May 19, 1990.

The early monsoon advance has brought pre-monsoon showers to Mizoram and pushed the Northern Limit of Monsoon northwards, covering key locations such as Karwar, Shimoga, Chennai, Saiha, and extending to 27degN/98degE.

This progression signals deeper penetration into northeastern states lik...