Kerala continues to receive heavy rain, orange alert in Palakkad, Malappuram

Thiruvananthapuram: Several parts of Kerala continued to receive heavy rains on Thursday. The weatherman issued an 'orange alert' for Friday in Palakkad and Malappuram districts indicating heavy to very heavy rainfall in these places.

Meanwhile, an orange alert that was issued earlier for Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod has been withdrawn by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

According to the latest update from the IMD, a yellow alert has been issued for Friday in Kannur, Kasaragod, Thrissur, Idukki, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts.

A yellow alert means moderate to heavy rain (64.5mm to 115.5mm) can be expected, whereas an orange alert means heavy to very heavy rain (115.6mm-204.4mm) is likely.

It also said Kerala was expected to receive widespread rainfall from Thursday night under the influence of a low pressure area, formed in the Arabian Sea off Lakshadweep area. Strong winds ranging from 40kmph to 50kmph are also likely during this period, the IMD warned.

Heavy rains continue to lash Kerala, six districts under orange alert for 48 hours — Sreekanteswara Temple in Kozhikode submerged in water due to heavy rains.

Those living in coastal areas have been advised not to venture into the sea for fishing related activities.

Meanwhile, the four shutters of Neyyar Dam in Thiruvananthapuram, managed by the state Irrigation Department, were raised by a total of 160 cm by afternoon as the capital city received widespread rainfall.

They were already raised by a total of 120 cm (30 cm each), the district collector said in a statement on Thursday.

Copious rainfall ahead of the season
Kerala has received 60 per cent of the rains that it normally gets during the northeast (retreating) Monsoon, even before its onset was announced. Kerala received 293 mm of rain between October 1 and 13, with Kasaragod and Kozhikode receiving very excess rains. The normal rainfall during the northeast monsoon between October 1 and December 31 was 492 mm.

Due to the continuous rains triggered by repeated low-pressure areas over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, the IMD has not yet announced the retreat of the southwest monsoon in Kerala.

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