THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Central Meteorological Department has warned of widespread rains likely to continue in the state. Yellow alert sounded in 11 districts except Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta will continue. The weather department’s release said there is a possibility of rain in seven districts in the next three hours.

There is a whirlwind over North Kerala and nearby areas and this is the cause of the rain. It is likely to become low pressure and move away from the Indian coast by today. Meantime, another low pressure may form over the Bay of Bengal in the next few days. The ban on fishermen continues.

Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod are likely to get light rain at isolated places. The Meteorological Department has also informed that rain with thunder and lightning is possible at isolated places in Kerala till December 14.

Although Cyclone Mandous has weakened into a whirlwind, the westerly winds that are part of it are responsible for the continued rains in the state. It is expected that the cyclonic storm which made landfall over Tamil Nadu will enter Arabian Sea via Karnataka and North Kerala in the next few hours. As the cyclone moves away, the rain will ease.