Heavy Rains and Storm Warnings in Kerala, Orange Alert Issued

Thiruvananthapuram: The India Meteorological Department on Saturday issued an orange alert in three northern districts of the state  for the day as heavy rains lashed several parts of Kerala. The IMD issued an orange alert in Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod and a yellow alert in nine other districts of the state for the day.

The weather department also predicted thunderstorms with moderate rainfall and gusty winds at one or two places in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam districts for the day. It further issued an orange alert in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts of the state from June 14 to June 16.

An orange alert means very heavy rain of 11 cm to 20 cm and a yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm. The IMD said that Kerala will receive fairly widespread rainfall along with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds in the next five days due to the influence of the cyclonic circulation over north Gujarat and another over west-central Bay of Bengal.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) cautioned people against standing or parking vehicles under trees given the weather alert, saying they could get uprooted or their branches may break and fall down due to strong winds. Those living in thatched, sheeted, or unsecured houses should move to safer buildings under the directions of the authorities.

However, the IMD advised fishermen against venturing into the sea in Kerala, Karnataka, and Lakshadweep coastal areas from June 13 to June 17 due to the possibility of bad weather and strong winds. The Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) too said that there is a possibility of high waves and storm rises along the Kerala and Tamil Nadu coasts till Sunday. Therefore, fishermen should be careful while going to sea for fishing, it said.