Low pressure over Bay of Bengal triggers rain alerts in 7 Kerala districts

Thiruvananthapuram: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that rainfall will continue across Kerala today, with alerts declared in various districts for the next four days. Green alerts have been issued in seven districts, indicating the possibility of moderate rainfall.

According to the IMD, central and southern districts are likely to receive more rain. Districts from Thiruvananthapuram to Idukki have been placed under rain warnings. The department has also warned of isolated thunderstorms accompanied by rainfall.

For the next three hours, light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and strong winds reaching up to 40 kmph is expected in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts.

A well-marked low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal is influencing weather conditions. The system is expected to move west-northwest over the next 48 hours before gradually turning northeast. The IMD has stated that light to moderate rainfall may continue until February 26 as a result of this system.

Sea conditions are expected to turn rough in parts of the southwest Bay of Bengal, adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal and along the south Sri Lankan coast on February 23. On February 24, strong winds of 40–50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, are likely over central parts adjoining the southern Bay of Bengal. Fishing has been prohibited in these specified areas on the mentioned dates. However, fishing along the Kerala, Lakshadweep and Karnataka coasts will not face hindrance today.

The IMD has also issued detailed thunderstorm safety advisories. People are advised to move indoors at the first sign of lightning, avoid open spaces, disconnect electrical appliances, refrain from standing under trees, and avoid fishing or bathing in water bodies during thunderstorms. Travel on bicycles, bikes and tractors should be avoided during intense weather conditions.

Beyond Kerala, the low-pressure system is expected to impact at least 12 states. Heavy rainfall is likely over parts of Tamil Nadu and south Kerala, while thunderstorms with gusty winds are forecast in Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, East Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Meghalaya, Gangetic West Bengal and Telangana. Isolated rainfall or snowfall is also expected in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The IMD has forecast a gradual rise of 3–4 degrees Celsius in maximum temperatures over northwest India during the next seven days. For Delhi-NCR, mainly clear skies with morning mist are predicted between February 23 and 25, with maximum temperatures ranging between 29 and 31 degrees Celsius.

Authorities have urged the public to follow safety guidelines and monitor official weather bulletins for updates.