Southwest Monsoon rains hit Kerala

New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) The Southwest monsoon rains have hit Kerala's southern coast, four days ahead of the scheduled date of June 1, the Meteorological Department said today.

''The Indian Meteorological Department declares onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala today,'' the department said in a statement.

It said westerly and southwesterly flow over the Arabian Sea and south peninsula had strengthened and deepened alongwith continued widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls for the last two days over Kerala.

The weatherman said the development of the off shore trough is extending from Karnataka to Kerala coast with persistent cloudiness over Arabian Sea and adjoining peninsular India.

The department has forceast the further advance of the monsoon over some parts of coastal and south interior Karnataka and some more parts of Tamil Nadu over the next 48 hours.

Thrissur in Kerala has already recorded 12 cm rains so far.

UNI