IMD: Heavy Rainfall, Thunderstorm/Lightning Likely in These States for Next 2 Days; Orange Alert Issued

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in Kerala over the next 4-5 days. For the next few days, the weather service has issued orange and yellow alerts.

The IMD has issued an orange alert for the following districts today: Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzha, and Pathanamthitta. Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Kasargod have been placed on yellow alert.

Except for two districts - Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam - an orange alert has been issued for all districts in the southern state for tomorrow (Friday).

Heavy rains have fallen on Kerala in recent days. On Wednesday, CM Pinarayi Vijayan announced that the state had reported 15 deaths due to rain-related incidents. Three of these deaths were reported on Wednesday. "5,168 people were relocated to 178 relief camps established in the state after 30 houses were completely destroyed and 198 houses were partially destroyed," he said.

The regional weather office said in a bulletin yesterday that the southwest monsoon was active over Kerala and that rain had fallen in most parts of the state in the previous 24 hours.

"Heavy rainfall reports in cm are as follows: Kozhikode & Amini (Lakshadweep UT) 9 each, Idukki 8, Punalur & Thenmala ARG (both in Kollam district) & Neryamangalam ARG (Ernakulam district) 7 each," according to the bulletin.

On Thursday, heavy to very heavy rain is expected in Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Idukki, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Pathanamthitta, according to the IMD. On Thursday, the central weather service predicted that rain would continue to fall over the South Peninsula for the next three days.

Heavy rain is also expected in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Konkan and Maharashtra till 6 August.

Extremely heavy rain is also expected over the ghats of Tamil Nadu on Thursday, as well as coastal and south interior Karnataka on the 4th and 5th of August.