Heavy rain likely in Kerala till Monday; orange alert in nine districts today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of very heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms across Kerala till Monday. Winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph are also likely in several areas. An orange alert has been issued in nine districts today: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod.

Tomorrow, an orange alert has been issued in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts. A yellow alert is in place today in Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram. Fishing has been banned along the Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep coasts till Monday.

The presence of multiple low-pressure areas and cyclonic circulations is likely to intensify rainfall. A low-pressure area may form off the south Kerala coast today. A cyclonic circulation is also prevailing between Lakshadweep and the south Kerala coast. Dense cloud formations have developed over southern Kerala and southern Tamil Nadu. Another low-pressure area is likely to form over the Andaman Sea today. These weather systems are expected to bring heavy rain to Kerala.

Meanwhile, the National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has warned of the possibility of high waves and coastal flooding along the Thiruvananthapuram coast until 11.30 pm today due to the Kallakkadal phenomenon.