Cyclonic circulation, well-marked low-pressure area; Kerala to receive heavy rainfall, alert issued in five districts

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that Kerala is likely to receive heavy rainfall for the next five days. A yellow alert has been issued in five districts today- Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Kozhikode, and Wayanad- warning of isolated heavy rain. Heavy rainfall refers to a situation where a region receives 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm of rain within 24 hours.

The IMD has also warned of moderate rain with thunder and lightning and strong winds up to 40 km/h in isolated places in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, and Malappuram districts over the next three hours.

A well-marked low-pressure area is currently located over the east-central Arabian Sea. It is expected to move east-southeast towards the central Arabian Sea and weaken into a low-pressure area within the next 12 hours. A cyclonic circulation is also present over the Kanyakumari region and nearby areas up to a height of 1.5 km.

Another cyclonic circulation is likely to form over the north Bay of Bengal by the day after tomorrow. Due to these weather systems, Kerala is expected to receive light to moderate rain, thunderstorms, and isolated heavy showers over the next five days. Wind speeds may reach 30 to 40 km/h during thunderstorms.

A yellow alert has been declared for Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Malappuram, Wayanad, and Kannur districts tomorrow, and for Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, and Kannur the following day. On Saturday, Palakkad and Malappuram districts will remain under a yellow alert.