Kerala weather: 8 districts under yellow alert; school and college holidays to be decided locally

Thiruvananthapuram: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for several districts in Kerala as the Southwest Monsoon continues to strengthen across the state.

The weather agency said on Tuesday (June 23) that northern Kerala is likely to receive heavy rainfall in the coming days, with the rain belt gradually extending to central and southern parts of the state as the week progresses.

A yellow alert indicates the possibility of isolated heavy rainfall ranging from 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm within 24 hours.

Yellow alert for northern districts

For Tuesday, the alert has been issued for Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts. The IMD said rainfall activity is expected to intensify over these regions as monsoon conditions remain favourable along the west coast.

After a brief variation in weather activity during the middle of the week, heavy rain is expected to return on Friday.

On June 26, the yellow alert will be in force in Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasaragod and Malappuram districts. By Saturday, June 27, the warning is expected to cover a wider area, with Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad also coming under alert.

This would take the total number of districts under yellow alert to eight.

Heavy rain recorded in parts of the state

The forecast comes after several parts of Kerala received significant rainfall during the 24-hour period ending on Tuesday morning.

Thodupuzha in Idukki district recorded 13 cm of rain, while Chalakudy in Thrissur district received 7 cm.

Despite the rainfall, maximum temperatures across Kerala have largely remained near normal levels or only slightly above average for this time of year.

School closure decisions to depend on local conditions

According to the latest forecast, heavy rainfall may cause temporary disruption to normal life in some areas of Kerala. In places experiencing severe weather, authorities may consider closing schools and colleges as a precautionary measure.

District administrations are expected to assess local conditions before taking any decision on educational institution closures. Any holiday declaration or change in academic schedules will be announced through district-specific orders based on the prevailing weather situation.

Students and parents have been advised to rely only on official notifications issued by district collectors and verified communications from schools and colleges regarding holidays, closures or timetable changes.

Advisory for fishermen and farmers

Authorities have advised fishermen not to venture into the sea off the Kerala coast and Lakshadweep on June 23 because of rough sea conditions.

Farmers have also been urged to take precautionary measures to minimise damage from heavy rain. Agricultural experts have recommended ensuring adequate drainage in fields cultivating banana, coconut, cardamom, ginger, black pepper and vegetables.

Banana farmers have been advised to provide staking support to prevent plants from being uprooted or falling during strong winds and heavy rain. Farmers have also been asked to avoid transplanting paddy while intense rainfall continues.

Monsoon advances across other states

The Southwest Monsoon has advanced further into several parts of the country, including Mumbai and other areas of Maharashtra, as well as Telangana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar.

The IMD has advised residents to monitor official weather updates and follow instructions issued by local authorities as weather conditions evolve.