Monsoon finally reaches Kerala, Lakshadweep

Thiruvananthapuram, June 8 The southwest monsoon has finally set in over Kerala and Lakshadweep, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Wednesday.

K. Santhosh, director at the IMD office here, said "good rains" were expected in the coming days across Kerala.

The norm is that officials assess the data recorded at 14 weather stations in Lakshadweep, Kerala and Mangalore from May 10.

The southwest monsoon normally hits Kerala around June 1. It advances northwards, usually in surges, and covers the entire country by around July 15.

Last year, while the IMD forecast the date for the onset of the southwest

monsoon as May 30, the actual onset took place on June 5.