Heavy rain likely in six districts in next three hours; orange alert issued

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert in six districts of Kerala, warning of heavy rain in isolated places over the next three hours. The alert covers Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Kozhikode. These districts are likely to receive moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds reaching speeds of up to 50 kmph. Other districts may also experience isolated moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and strong winds reaching speeds of up to 40 kmph, the IMD said.

Earlier, the IMD had warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Kerala over the next five days and issued orange and yellow alerts for various districts.

For Wednesday (October 21), an orange alert has been issued in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Kottayam districts. Isolated very heavy rainfall is likely in these districts.

Orange alert

22/10/2026: Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Kozhikode.
24/10/2026: Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod.
25/10/2026: Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad.

Yellow alert

21/10/2026: Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram.
22/10/2026: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Palakkad, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod.
23/10/2026: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod.
24/10/2026: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram and Wayanad.
25/10/2026: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Kannur and Kasaragod.

The IMD has forecast isolated heavy rainfall in districts under the yellow alert. Heavy rainfall refers to rainfall between 64.5 mm and 115.5 mm in 24 hours. Thunderstorms are also expected.