IMD warns of extreme heavy rains in Kerala, red alert in five districts

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heavy rains in Kerala till Saturday. Following this, red alert has been announced in five districts- Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam.

Orange alert has been announced in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad and yellow alert in Kannur and Kasaragod districts.

The IMD has warned that there is a possibility of thunder, lightning and rain with wind in Kerala for the next five days as a result of the cyclonic circulation formed over South Kerala. The Meteorological Department also informs that there is a possibility of wind speed of 30-40 km per hour and heavy rain till Saturday.

A depression has also formed in southwest Bay of Bengal off Tamil Nadu - Andhra coast. The low pressure moving in northeast direction is likely to intensify into an extreme low pressure over central Bay of Bengal by Friday morning.

The IMD has also said that the low pressure is likely to move in a northeasterly direction and gain strength again and reach the northeast Bay of Bengal. Due to strong winds and bad weather conditions, fishermen should strictly follow the warning not to go out to sea from the Kerala coast until further notice, the IMD informed.