THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that a new cyclonic storm is forming in the central and eastern Bay of Bengal. The cyclone, named Dana, is expected to form by Wednesday and move towards the Bengal coast. The low pressure formed over the Andaman Sea by tomorrow will later turn into a deep depression. By Wednesday, it will intensify into a cyclonic storm over the central and eastern Bay of Bengal.

IMD has predicted that Cyclone Dana is likely to move towards the Odisha-Bengal coast. Though the cyclone will not directly affect Kerala, the rains will continue in the coming days. Rain is also likely to intensify in the evenings. Rain accompanied by lightning is expected.

Meanwhile, moderate rain accompanied with lightning at isolated places over Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kasaragod districts during the next 3 hours and strong winds with speeds of less than 40 kmph are likely to prevail at isolated places. Light to moderate rain is also likely to occur at isolated places in other districts. Yellow alert has been declared in Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts today. A yellow alert has been sounded in Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts tomorrow and the next day and in Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki districts on the 23rd.