The southwest monsoon arrived in Kerala on Saturday, eight days ahead of schedule, marking its earliest onset over the Indian mainland since 2009, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported. As heavy rains continued to batter the state, the IMD issued red alerts for Kannur and Kasaragod districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall, with widespread disruptions reported in daily life and travel.

In response to the worsening weather, authorities have shut down several tourist destinations across the state. All tourist spots in Kannur and Kasaragod will remain closed till May 27, while boating, trekking, and night travel (7 pm to 7 am) have been banned in the affected hilly districts.

En Ooru Village in Wayanad and water-based tourism activities in Kozhikode have also been suspended. Quarrying, earthworks, mining, well construction, and sand extraction have also been halted. Residents in landslide- and flood-prone areas, as well as those near rivers and dams, have been urged to relocate to safer areas in coordination with local authorities. Precautionary guidelines issued by the State Disaster Management Authority are available online.

Wayanad District Collector Dr Meghashree ordered the closure of adventure and recreational centres in red zones, and halted quarry operations. Entry into rivers and other water bodies, including for bathing, is strictly prohibited. Unnecessary travel should also be avoided.

In Idukki, all tourism activities have been banned following an orange alert. Ernakulam District Collector NSK Umesh announced flood prevention measures along National Highway 66, while Thiruvananthapuram Collector Anu Kumari directed the removal of hazardous trees and branches from public and private spaces.

May 24

• Red Alert: Kannur, Kasaragod
• Orange Alert: 9 districts - Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad
• Yellow alert: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha

May 25

• Red Alert: Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod
• Orange Alert: 7 districts- Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad
• Yellow alert: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam

May 26

• Red Alert: Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasaragod
• Orange Alert: 4 districts- Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad
• Yellow alert: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha

May 27

• Orange Alert: 6 districts- Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod
• Yellow Alert- remaining districts

In view of the red alert issued for Malappuram, District Collector V R Vinod has declared a holiday for all educational institutions, including madrasas and tuition centres, on May 25.

A red alert denotes extremely heavy rainfall of over 20 cm in 24 hours, orange indicates very heavy rain between 11 cm and 20 cm, and yellow signifies heavy rain ranging from 6 cm to 11 cm.

The IMD also warned of strong winds in coastal and inland areas and urged the public, especially fishermen, to remain cautious. Fishing has been banned along the Kerala-Karnataka-Lakshadweep coasts from Friday through May 27.

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) forecast high waves of up to 3.5 metres at various coastal locations on Saturday.