Orange alert issued for Thrissur and Ernakulam as IMD forecasts heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms across parts of Kerala
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Thrissur and a short-duration orange warning for Ernakulam and Thrissur districts on July 17. Several other districts remain under a yellow alert as rainfall, thunderstorms and gusty winds are expected across Kerala until July 20 due to a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal.
Thiruvananthapuram: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued fresh rain alerts for Kerala, placing Thrissur under an orange alert and 10 other districts under a yellow alert on Friday. The weather agency has also issued a three-hour orange warning for Ernakulam and Thrissur, forecasting heavy rainfall at isolated places along with wind speeds of up to 40 kmph.
According to the IMD, light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds is expected across several parts of the state over the next few days as a deep depression over the northwest Bay of Bengal continues to strengthen.
Kerala Rain Alert Today for Thrissur and Ernakulam
The IMD has forecast heavy rainfall at isolated locations in Thrissur and Ernakulam during the three-hour warning period.
Moderate rainfall with winds reaching up to 30 kmph is likely at isolated places in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts.
Light rainfall is expected at isolated places in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts.
The latest forecast comes after several parts of Kerala experienced reduced rainfall and above-normal temperatures over the past few days.
"Heavy rain and wind speeds of up to 40 kmph are likely at isolated places in Ernakulam and Thrissur during the warning period," the IMD said.
IMD Rain Alerts Across Kerala
Orange Alert
- July 17 (Friday): Thrissur
Yellow Alert
- July 17 (Friday): Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod
- July 18 (Saturday): Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod
- July 19 (Sunday): Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod
Deep Depression Expected to Influence Kerala Weather
According to the IMD, the low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal, off the north Odisha-West Bengal coast, has intensified into a deep depression.
The system is expected to move northwestwards across north Odisha and the Gangetic plains of West Bengal over the next two days.
Its influence is likely to bring light to moderate rainfall across Kerala until July 20. The IMD has also forecast that maximum temperatures at isolated places in Kerala may remain 3 to 4 degrees Celsius above normal during this period.
Thunderstorm Advisory Issued by IMD
The weather department has warned of thunderstorms at isolated places across Kerala on Friday and Saturday.
Residents have been advised to move indoors immediately after the first signs of lightning or thunderstorms, avoid staying in open areas and refrain from taking shelter beneath trees.
The IMD also advised people not to park vehicles under trees and to avoid going onto terraces or open courtyards during thunderstorm activity.
"People should move to safe buildings immediately after the first sign of thunderstorms and avoid open spaces during lightning activity," the IMD advised.
