Rain clouds hover over Kochi city on Tuesday afternoon. IMD has issued heavy rain alerts for nine districts in... Read More

KOCHI: A low pressure formation in the Arabian Sea will bring intense rains and thunderstorms to the state for the next couple of days. The India meteorological department (IMD) has warned of squally weather and heavy rainfall, indicating the onset of northeast monsoon.

Nine districts in the state have been sounded of yellow alert for heavy rainfall of 7-11cm. They are: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam , Pathnamthitta, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Malappuram , Kozhikode and Wayanad.

IMD has said that wind speed reaching 45-55kmph gusting to 65kmph is likely to prevail over north Kerala. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea.

On Tuesday, heavy rainfall of 9cm was reported from Chittoor (Palakkad) followed by Kochi airport (Ernakulam) with 8cm. Kollengode (Palakkad) recorded 7cm and Piravom (Ernakulam) got 6cm of rain. Aryankavu (Kollam), Mancompu (Alappuzha), Kozha ( Kottayam ) and Alathur ( Palakkad district ) experienced 5cm of rainfall each.

The maximum temperature rose in Malappuram, Kollam, Kozhikode, Kottayam, Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram districts. Minimum temperature rose above normal in Kannur and Kozhikode districts and remained normal elsewhere. Vellanikkara recorded the highest maximum temperature of 35 degrees Celsius while Vellanikkara recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 21 degrees Celsius.

Skymet weather said that a cyclonic circulation has formed over Lakshadweep area. It will gradually intensify into a low-pressure area and will move in a northerly direction. Due to this, winds over south Tamil Nadu will strengthen leading to increased rainfall activities over Tamil Nadu as well as over Kerala and Karnataka.

In Malappuram, the revenue authorities have urged people living in hilly areas to remain alert in the wake of the IMD warning.

Nilambur region had witnessed flood and multiple landslides which claimed more than 50 lives in the second week of August due to isolated heavy rains.

