Heavy rain likely in Kerala today: 7 districts under IMD yellow alert
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is likely to see isolated heavy rain on Wednesday, September 23, with the India Meteorological Department issuing a yellow alert for seven districts. Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds are also possible in isolated areas.
The yellow alert covers Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Kannur and Kasaragod.
The IMD has forecast isolated heavy rainfall of 7 cm to 11 cm in 24 hours in Kerala between September 23 and 25.
Other parts of the state may also receive rain, with thunderstorms and lightning possible at isolated locations.
Thunderstorms and strong winds expected
The weather department has warned of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of around 30-40 kmph at one or two places in Kerala.
People are advised to take caution during thunderstorms, particularly in open areas and near trees or other structures that could become hazardous in strong winds.
The rain is linked to a weather system over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal. The system is expected to move west-northwestwards and strengthen as it approaches the eastern coast.
The weather system is expected to influence rainfall over Kerala in the coming days, with the IMD maintaining a heavy-rain warning through September 25.
Fishermen warning for Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep
The IMD has also issued a marine warning for fishermen. Fishing has been restricted off the Kerala-Karnataka-Lakshadweep coasts on September 23 and 24 because of strong winds and squally weather.
Winds of 35-45 kmph, gusting up to 55 kmph, are expected over these coastal waters.
A separate warning covers the Tamil Nadu coast, Gulf of Mannar and Comorin area, where winds of 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, are possible.
What the yellow alert means
A yellow alert indicates that people should stay aware of changing weather conditions and follow official advisories, particularly where heavy rain or thunderstorms are forecast.
The current IMD outlook indicates that Kerala's unsettled weather could continue through September 25, while no heavy-rain warning is listed for September 26 onwards in the Kerala subdivision forecast. The current weather pattern is being influenced by the Bay of Bengal system moving towards the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast. While the system is not directly over Kerala, its wider circulation is contributing to continued rainfall over the state.
For Kerala, the main concerns are isolated heavy showers, lightning and gusty winds, rather than a state-wide spell of extreme rainfall. The district-level alert can change as the weather system evolves, so residents should check the latest IMD updates before making plans.