Extreme heavy rains predicted in Kerala, cyclone in Bay of Bengal to make landfall on Sunday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted extreme heavy rain in Kerala. A red alert has been declared in two districts today- Ernakulam and Thrissur. Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts are on orange alert and Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kannur and Kasaragod districts are on yellow alert.

The IMD said that there is a possibility of moderate rain at isolated places in all the districts in the next three hours. A depression has formed in the southeast Arabian Sea off the coast of Kerala. As a result, there is a possibility of moderate rain in Kerala for the next five days.

An orange alert has been announced in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki districts on Friday. Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad districts are on yellow alert. An orange alert has been announced in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Idukki districts on Saturday.

According to the Central Meteorological Department, there is a possibility of rain with thunder and lightning at isolated places and strong winds with a speed of 30 to 40 km per hour till Saturday.

There is a possibility of waterlogging on major roads / blurred visibility in vehicles and there may be traffic jams. Authorities have warned people to avoid non-essential travel and stay in safe areas. Waterlogging/flooding is also possible in low-lying areas and along river banks.

Cyclone warning in Bay of Bengal

A low pressure area over central West Bay of Bengal and near southwest Bay of Bengal has turned into a well marked low pressure area over central West Bay of Bengal. It is likely to move in the northeast direction and strengthen as a depression over central Bay of Bengal by tomorrow. The IMD has warned that it is likely to make landfall as a cyclonic storm over the central-east Bay of Bengal by Saturday morning and then make landfall as a severe cyclone along the Bangladesh-near West Bengal coast by evening on May 26.