Rain accompanied by thunderstorms; Yellow alert in districts including Ernakulam today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts rain in Kerala over the next five days. Yellow alerts have been issued for various districts. Today, yellow alerts are in effect for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam districts. Yellow alerts have also been issued for Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam districts for tomorrow (20/09/2026), and for Kollam, Pathanamthitta, and Kottayam districts for the day after (21/09/2026).

Isolated heavy rainfall has been predicted. "Heavy rainfall" is defined as rainfall ranging from 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm within 24 hours. The IMD predicted the possibility of rain accompanied by thunderstorms until the 20th.

Lightning causes significant damage to the lives of humans and animals, as well as to electrical and communication networks and household appliances connected to electrical circuits. Therefore, the public should adopt the following precautions as soon as storm clouds appear. One should not neglect these precautions simply because lightning may not always be visible.

• As soon as the first signs of lightning appear, move immediately into a safe building. Remaining in open areas increases the risk of being struck by lightning.
• Keep windows and doors closed when there is a possibility of strong winds and lightning. Avoid standing near doors or windows. Stay inside the building and try to avoid touching walls or the floor as much as possible.
• Disconnect electrical appliances. Avoid being near electrical appliances during a lightning storm.
• Avoid using landline telephones during lightning storms; however, using a mobile phone is safe.