IMD issues alert for heavy rainfall in five Kerala districts

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert for isolated heavy rain of 7-11 cm in five districts over the weekend. Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Idukki are under yellow alert on Saturday and Sunday.

On Friday, all districts except Palakkad, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kasaragod were on yellow alert. Thunderstorms with lightning and 30-40 km/h wind gusts are expected in one or two places in Kerala until Tuesday. Along the Kerala coast, stormy weather is likely with wind speeds of 40-45 km/h, gusting up to 55 km/h. Anglers are advised not to venture into the Arabian Sea until Tuesday.

INCOIS also issued a rough sea warning, with high waves ranging from 3.0 to 3.5m along the coast from Pozhiyoor to Kasaragod. Surface currents vary between 42 and 70 cm/sec.

Experts have noted that cyclones forming in the Arabian Sea have had an impact on the start of the monsoon in the past decade, similar to Cyclone Biparjoy this year. From 2014 to 2023, cyclones were observed in 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023.

Monsoon

Simultaneously, the southwest monsoon is expected to advance towards various parts of the southern Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep, the Maldives, the Comorin area, as well as some parts of the southwestern, central and northeastern Bay of Bengal and northeastern states.

While the northwestern plains of India may experience an increase in maximum temperatures of two to three degrees Celsius over the next four days, the overall temperature is expected to remain stable thereafter.

Heatwave conditions are forecast to persist in Bihar until June 11, while West Bengal, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Telangana, Rayalaseema and southern parts of Uttar Pradesh will continue to experience the heat wave until variable dates between the beginning and the middle of June.

The weather system also includes a western disturbance over Himachal Pradesh and a trough extending from northern Chhattisgarh to northern inland Karnataka. As a result, Rajasthan is likely to witness showers and thunderstorms today, accompanied by strong winds.

Lightning strikes and strong winds are expected in the Ganga coastal areas of Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.

Showers, along with stormy winds, are forecast over isolated parts of inland northern Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema.

Heavy rainfall

In terms of heavy rainfall, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Manipur, Mizoram, Kerala and Mahe are likely to experience substantial rainfall.

The Meteorological Department has also issued a warning to fishermen to avoid venturing into areas of the eastern central Arabian Sea, central western and southern Arabian Sea, the Karnataka-Goa-Maharashtra coasts, the Somali coast, the southwestern Arabian Sea, Gulf of Mannar, Andaman Sea, Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep due to high wind speed and rough sea conditions.

Yesterday, severe heat wave conditions prevailed in parts of Bihar, West Bengal, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Isolated areas of Odisha, Telangana, North Interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal and Lakshadweep experienced rain showers or showers.

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