Rain for seven days; alert in nine districts including Ernakulam 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Indian Meteorological Department has warned of heavy rains in Kerala for the next seven days. A yellow alert has been issued for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts tomorrow. A cyclonic circulation is located over the southeast Arabian Sea and adjacent Lakshadweep areas. It is likely to intensify into a low-pressure area over the southeast Arabian Sea and the adjoining Lakshadweep region near the Kerala and Karnataka coasts by Saturday and is likely to re-intensify into a very low-pressure area in the next 48 hours. Isolated heavy rain is also likely from October 17 to 23. The IMD has said that there is a possibility of thunderstorms and winds gusting up to 30 to 40 kmph in the next five days.

The warning states that there is a possibility of moderate rain with thunderstorms and strong winds with a speed of up to 40 kmph at isolated places in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Palakkad and Kozhikode districts in the next three hours, and light rain at isolated places in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts.