Low-pressure forms over Bay of Bengal; heavy rainfall likely in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The cyclonic circulation over the southeast Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean near the equator has strengthened as a low pressure, expected to bring heavy rainfall in Kerala. It is likely to intensify again in the next 24 hours and reach the Southwest Gulf near the Sri Lanka-Tamil Nadu coast by Wednesday, said the Indian meteorological department.

Kerala is likely to experience light/moderate rain with isolated thundershowers for the next five days and heavy rain at isolated places on December 11. A yellow alert has been issued in Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department has informed that there will be no disruption to fishing in the Kerala-Karnataka-Lakshadweep coasts on Saturday.

Strong winds with gustiness of 35 to 45 kmph at occasional up to 55 kmph and bad weather conditions are likely over southern parts of Southeast Bay of Bengal. Also, strong winds with a speed of 45 to 55 km per hour and on some occasions up to 65 km per hour are likely in the northwest Arabian Sea.