Relief from scorching heat; Rain predicted in Kerala until Thursday, yellow alert issued

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rain in Kerala until Thursday. A yellow alert has been issued in Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod on September 24. Isolated heavy rainfall has been predicted in these districts. Heavy rainfall refers to rainfall between 64.5 mm and 115.5 mm within 24 hours.

Meantime, there is a warning of rain in the state today and tomorrow. A yellow alert has been sounded in Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam,

Wayanad and Kannur. These districts are likely to experience heavy rain accompanied by strong winds. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has also warned of high waves of up to 1.5 metres along the coasts of Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod tomorrow due to the Kallakkadal phenomenon, with a possibility of coastal erosion.

The IMD had earlier informed that the rainfall in Kerala was due to the possibility of a low-pressure area forming over the Bay of Bengal. The low-pressure system, moving west-north westwards, is expected to intensify into a depression over the central-eastern Bay of Bengal on September 21 and further strengthen into a deep depression over the central-western Bay of Bengal on September 22.

The system is then likely to move west-north westwards and reach the central-western and adjoining northwestern Bay of Bengal, near the southern Odisha-northern Andhra Pradesh coasts, by the morning of September 23. As thunderstorms are also possible along with the rain, the IMD has advised the public to remain vigilant.