Heavy rain warning issued amid extremely severe depression and cyclonic circulation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of the possibility of heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms in the state on Tuesday. The weather department also said that strong winds with speeds of 30-40 kmph are likely. Isolated rainfall is expected in all districts of Kerala in the coming hours.

The IMD stated that there is a possibility of extremely severe depression developing over the Bay of Bengal. A well-marked low-pressure area is presently located over the central-western Bay of Bengal and the adjoining central-eastern Bay of Bengal. It is likely to move west-north westwards in the coming hours and intensify into a depression over the central-western Bay of Bengal.

Within the following 24 hours, it is likely to intensify further into a very severe depression over the central-western Bay of Bengal and the adjoining northwestern Bay of Bengal. It is then expected to move west-north westwards and reach the vicinity of the north Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coasts by tomorrow morning.

A cyclonic circulation is also prevailing over central Tamil Nadu and adjoining areas, extending from 4.5 to 7.6 km above mean sea level. A trough extends from the southeast Arabian Sea through Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the southwest Bay of Bengal, passing through the cyclonic circulation over central Tamil Nadu and adjoining areas, and extending towards the low-pressure area at an altitude of 5.8 to 7.6 km above mean sea level.

Due to the presence of the low-pressure trough and cyclonic circulation, rainfall is likely in Kerala from September 21 to 25, according to the advisory. The IMD has also warned of thunderstorms and strong winds reaching speeds of 30–40 kmph.

Meantime, Neetha K Gopal, director of the Meteorological Observatory, said that the heavy rain experienced in the state in recent days was not caused by a cloudburst. She also said that flash-flood conditions may continue to be expected.