Cyclonic circulation: Rain to intensify in next three hours, yellow alert issued in nine districts including Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that rain will intensify in Kerala by tonight. IMD said that isolated places in Thiruvananthapuram Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning in the next three hours. IMD has also forecasted gusty wind speeds reaching up to 40 kmph.

IMD has sounded yellow alert in nine districts today. The yellow alert has been issued in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad.

The state will be receiving heavy rains due to the influence of easterly/northeasterly winds blowing from the Bay of Bengal to southeast India and the cyclonic circulation prevailing over the Comorin region.

The National Center for Oceanographic Studies (INCOIS) has warned that there is a possibility of 1.0 to 1.3 meter high waves and storm surge along the Kerala coast till 11.30 tonight. 1.0 to 1.4 meters high waves and rough seas are likely to occur along South Tamil Nadu coast till 11.30 pm. Fishermen and coastal residents have been warned. Meantime, IMD said that fishing has not been banned on the Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep coasts.