Rain turns vigorous over Kerala; Orange alert in two districts on August 17

Many parts of the State received heavy to very heavy rain on Friday and Saturday

The southwest monsoon rain has turned into a vigorous mode in many parts of the State triggered by the low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal. Many parts of the State received heavy to very heavy rain on Friday and Saturday with Vellanikkara in Thrissur recording the highest rainfall of 15 cm during the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Saturday followed by Lower Sholayar and Peechi in Thrissur with 13 cm each.

According to a weather bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday, the low-pressure area over southern Odisha and the adjoining northern Andhra Pradesh coast now lies over lower Chhattisgarh and the neighbourhood. It is likely to move west-northwestwards and weaken gradually and would reach over Gujarat around the morning of August 18 as a remnant cyclonic circulation. However, a fresh low-pressure area is likely to form over the northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal on the same day of August 18.

As a result of the weather system, strong westerlies and north-westerlies are likely to prevail over the Kerala and Lakshadweep area in the lower tropospheric levels. This is likely to trigger widespread rainfall activity, including heavy rainfall (7cm to 11cm in 24 hours) to very heavy rainfall (12cm to 20cm in 24 hours) at one or two places in Kerala until August 19. The IMD issued an orange alert for Kannur and Kasaragod on Sunday, where very heavy rain is likely, and a yellow alert for seven districts except for the five southernmost districts from Kottayam to Thiruvananthapuram, where isolated heavy rain is likely.