THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Four shutters of Neyyar Dam have been raised 1 ft each as the Northeast monsoon was intensified in the region. Heavy rains have been lashing the catchment area of the dam including Agasthya forest area. Officials have issued a warning for the people residing on the coasts of Karamanayar.

One shutter of Peppara dam will also be opened as the rains are continuing. The meteorological department has notified that heavy rains will continue in Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts.

The north east monsoon sets in over parts of South India Thursday and would expand in the next 24 hours, the regional weather office said.

This time, there could be excess rainfall during north east monsoon, Director of Area Cyclone Warning Centre, S Balachandran told reporters here.

"North east monsoon rains have commenced over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, south Tamil Nadu, southern Kerala and southern coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh," he said.

The monsoon will cover the remaining parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Rayalaseema and southern Karnataka tomorrow, he added.

Tamil Nadu is dependent on the crucial north east monsoon as it brings the bulk of the annual rainfall in the state.

According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the long period average rainfall for Tamil Nadu during the north east monsoon stretching between October and December was 44 cm and this time there could be an excess rainfall.

The forecast was for an "above normal" monsoon, it said adding "there are still two months left."

Balachandran predicted showers in most parts of the state and Puducherry on November 2 and 3, while heavy rain was likely in one or two places in coastal districts.

There would be occasional spells of rains or thundershowers in Chennai and its suburbs, he added.