The southwest monsoon officially reached Goa today, arriving 12 days earlier than its usual onset date of June 5, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This early arrival follows a swift progression of the monsoon, which had already set in over Kerala on May 24—eight days ahead of schedule. The IMD confirmed that the monsoon now covers all of Goa, along with parts of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland. This early onset is due to favorable weather conditions such as widespread cloud cover, strong westerly winds, and significant rainfall.
Goa has already seen heavy rains over the past week, prompting the IMD to issue an Orange Alert for the state until May 29. The alert warns of heavy to very heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and lightning through May 31. Typically, the monsoon arrives in Goa after June 5, making this one of the earliest onsets in recent years. The IMD has urged residents to stay alert, as the intense weather may disrupt daily life and strain infrastructure.