Kerala likely to receive heavy rainfall for next five days; people living in six districts should exercise caution

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast rainfall in Kerala for the next five days. The weather department has issued yellow alerts in several districts across the state. A yellow alert has been issued today for Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts.

Tomorrow, yellow alerts will be in place for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam districts. The IMD has predicted isolated heavy rainfall in these areas. Heavy rainfall refers to rainfall between 64.5 mm and 115.5 mm within 24 hours. The department has also warned of thunderstorms and strong winds with speeds reaching 40 to 50 kmph at isolated places today and tomorrow.

According to the weather department, a trough extending from the southeast Arabian Sea to the central Bay of Bengal is currently positioned at an altitude of 3.1 km to 4.5 km above sea level, passing over Lakshadweep, north Kerala, the southern interior regions of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Due to these conditions, the IMD said the southwest monsoon is likely to arrive in Kerala around May 26, although there could be a variation of up to four days earlier or later.