Monsoon likely to arrive in Kerala on May 27, orange alert issued in four districts on Tuesday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Heavy rains are expected in the state till Saturday. The monsoon is expected to arrive in Kerala on the 27th. The monsoon have reached the southern Andaman Sea, Nicobar Islands and the southeastern Bay of Bengal, the Met office said. The westerly winds in the Arabian Sea will intensify under the influence of cyclonic circulation that formed over Lakshadweep and off the coast of Tamil Nadu in the Bay of Bengal. An orange alert has been issued in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts on Tuesday, and yellow alert in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Idukki, Palakkad and Wayanad districts.

Fishing ban

Fishing along the Kerala-Lakshadweep-Karnataka coast has been banned due to strong winds of 40 to 50 kmph and bad weather. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has warned coastal areas to be vigilant as the sea is likely to be turbulent till May 19.