The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on May 16 (Saturday) afternoon issued a five-day rain forecast for Kerala, with yellow alerts declared in several districts over the possibility of isolated heavy rainfall.

Districts under yellow alert 

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Kannur and Kasaragod on May 16 (Saturday).

For May 17 (Sunday), yellow alerts have been issued in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod.

On May 18 (Monday), the alert will remain in place for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram.

A yellow alert indicates the possibility of rainfall between 64.5 mm and 115.5 mm within 24 hours.

Monsoon update

The weather department also said the southwest monsoon has advanced into some parts of the southeast Arabian Sea, southwest and southeast Bay of Bengal, many parts of the Andaman Sea, the entire Nicobar Islands and some parts of the Andaman Islands, including Sri Vijaya Puram, on May 16 (Saturday).

According to the IMD, the southwest monsoon is likely to set in over Kerala on May 26, with a model error margin of plus or minus four days.

The IMD said the well-marked low-pressure area over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal lay as a low-pressure area over the same region at 8.30 am IST on May 16 (Saturday).

The associated cyclonic circulation extends up to 4.5 km above mean sea level and tilts south-westwards with height, the department said.

The IMD has forecast isolated heavy rainfall and scattered to fairly widespread thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph across Kerala during May 16-18.

Light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds reaching 30-50 kmph is also likely over Kerala and Mahe during the next five days.