The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its 7 pm communique on May 28 (Thursday), said thunderstorms with rain and gusty winds are likely in several parts of Kerala over the next three hours.

The department said thunderstorm with heavy rainfall and winds up to 40 kmph is likely at one or two places in Kollam district, under an orange alert.

Thunderstorm with light to moderate rainfall and gusty winds up to 40 kmph is likely in Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts. Light rain is likely in Palakkad district.

In its 4 pm communique on May 28 (Thursday), valid for three hours, the IMD had issued an orange alert for thunderstorms with heavy rainfall and gusty winds up to 40 kmph in Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Kozhikode districts.

It also forecast moderate rainfall with gusty winds in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Thrissur, Kannur and Kasaragod districts. Light rain was likely in other districts.

IMD issues five-day rain forecast and yellow alerts in Kerala

Alongside the short-term warnings, the IMD on May 28 (Thursday) issued a five-day rainfall forecast for Kerala and placed several districts under yellow alert for isolated heavy rainfall.

Yellow alert has been issued for:

May 28 (Thursday): Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur

May 29 (Friday): Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam

June 1 (Sunday): Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam

The IMD said isolated heavy rainfall is expected in these districts. Heavy rainfall refers to 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm in 24 hours.

Monsoon progress and weather systems over region

The IMD said conditions are favourable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon over parts of the southwest and southeast Arabian Sea, the Lakshadweep region and parts of the Bay of Bengal over the next two to three days.

It said a cyclonic circulation continues over the southeast Arabian Sea and nearby areas. Another cyclonic circulation is present over the central-east and southeast Bay of Bengal.

From May 28 (Thursday) to June 1 (Sunday), Kerala, Mahe and Lakshadweep are likely to see widespread light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and winds of 40–50 kmph. The IMD also said isolated heavy rainfall is likely in Kerala and Mahe on May 28 (Thursday), May 29 (Friday) and June 1 (Sunday).