Heavy rain likely across Kerala till May 27; 13 of 14 districts on yellow alert
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday afternoon issued a five-day rainfall forecast and announced yellow alerts in several districts across Kerala, indicating the likelihood of isolated heavy rainfall over the coming days.
The weather department said heavy rainfall refers to rain measuring between 64.5 mm and 115.5 mm within a 24-hour period.
District-wise yellow alerts across Kerala
The IMD has issued yellow alerts for the following districts:
May 23 (Saturday): Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod
May 24 (Sunday): Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur
May 25 (Monday): Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad
May 26 (Tuesday): Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Alappuzha
May 27 (Wednesday): Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam
Southwest monsoon advances further
In a separate weather bulletin issued later in the day, the IMD said the southwest monsoon had advanced further into parts of the southwest Arabian Sea, additional parts of the southeast Arabian Sea, the Comorin area, southwest, southeast and east-central Bay of Bengal, and most parts of the Andaman Sea on May 23.
The department said conditions remain favourable for the monsoon to advance further into more parts of the southwest and southeast Arabian Sea, the Comorin area, southwest, southeast and east-central Bay of Bengal, and the remaining parts of the Andaman Sea over the next three to four days.
The IMD also said an upper-air cyclonic circulation over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas is now located over the southeast adjoining central Bay of Bengal.
Thunderstorms and gusty winds forecast
The weather department has forecast widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds with speeds reaching 40-50 kmph across Kerala, Mahe and Lakshadweep between May 23 and May 27.