THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Strong rains are expected to lash across the state on Sunday, warned the IMD. The start of the northeast monsoon was modest, but IMD presaged about more intensifying rains in the coming days. The cyclone Tej formed in the Arabian Sea will also likely turn into a cyclonic storm in the coming days.

The Meteorological Department has predicted that ‘Tej’ is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the Southwest Arabian Sea today. In this scenario, moderate rain with thunder and lightning in Kerala may be possible for the next five days. The Central Meteorological Department has informed that there is a possibility of heavy rain at isolated places from October 21 to 25.

A yellow alert has been announced in Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Palakkad districts. The Central Meteorological Department said that there is a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning at isolated places in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts. Strong winds with a speed of up to 40 kmph will accompany the rain in many districts.

Meanwhile, a two-day holiday has been announced in Oman as a precautionary measure in the wake of Cyclone Tej. Public and private sector employees in Oman's Dhofar Governorate and Al Wusta Governorate's Al Jazar Province will be allowed holiday for the next two days. The Ministry of Labor of Oman made the announcement.