Southwest Monsoon Likely to Reach Kerala by Thursday; IMD Issues Orange Alert in Eight Districts

Thiruvananthapuram: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the Southwest Monsoon is likely to make its onset over Kerala by Thursday, signalling the official start of the rainy season in the state.

According to the IMD, favourable conditions are developing for the monsoon's further advancement into additional parts of the southwest and southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, and several regions of the Bay of Bengal. The weather system is expected to extend into the remaining parts of the southeast Bay of Bengal as well as the northeast, east-central, west-central and southwest sectors of the bay.

In anticipation of widespread rainfall activity, the IMD has issued an Orange Alert for eight districts in Kerala on Thursday. The alert covers Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur, indicating the likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated areas.

A Yellow Alert has been issued for Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts, where moderate to heavy rainfall is expected.

The weather department has warned that several parts of the state may experience moderate to heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40 to 50 kmph.

Meteorologists said the cyclonic circulation that had persisted over the southeast Arabian Sea near the south Kerala coast has shifted towards the east-central Arabian Sea and the adjoining Karnataka coast. At the same time, another cyclonic circulation remains active over the north Andaman Sea and neighbouring areas, contributing to the prevailing weather conditions.

Under the influence of these systems, Kerala and Mahe are likely to receive isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall through Sunday. The forecast has raised concerns over possible localized flooding, waterlogging and weather-related disruptions in vulnerable regions.