Thiruvananthapuram: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has revised its earlier prediction that only seven districts in the state will get 'very heavy to heavy rainfall' on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, it had even ruled out extremely heavy rainfall, rain above 20 cm. Its latest bulletin, however, has said there will be 'extremely heavy rainfall' in Idukki and Wayanad during the day, and 'heavy to very heavy' rainfall (between 11 cm and 20 cm) in 10 districts: Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod. The intensity of the rain will be less, below 11 cm, only in the southernmost districts of Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram.

Nonetheless, the IMD has sounded 'red alert' for all the 14 districts. Red alert is the weatherman's way of warning authorities to take action. If it was 'orange alert', the signal was to be prepared, and a 'yellow alert' is a signal to watch out.

Also read: Rain fury continues in Kerala; hundreds stranded, traffic hit

The IMD's latest bulletin also warned that thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds were likely to affect Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki and Malappuram districts. "Heavy rain accompanied with gusty wind speed reaching 60 kmph is expected in Alappuzha, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Idukki, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts," it added.

Monsoon's unceasing fury

There was a stupendous spike in monsoon rainfall on Wednesday. According to the IMD, the normal rainfall on August 15 is just above 10 mm (1 cm). But on Wednesday, it shot up to 130 mm (13 cm); a spurt of 300 per cent. (In Idukki's Peermade the day's rainfall touched 274 mm or 27.4 cm). Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Ernakulam were the worst hit.

Southwest monsoon has been vigorous over Kerala. Rain occurred at most places in Lakshadweep.  

Read more: Latest Kerala news