Thiruvananthapuram: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday revised its forecast, placing two additional districts under an orange alert. The districts now under orange alert are Ernakulam, Idukki, Malappuram, and Kozhikode. The IMD also issued a yellow alert for the remaining districts in the state.

Alerts
An orange alert (very heavy rainfall of 12–20 cm in 24 hours) has been issued for the following districts:

• October 20: Ernakulam, Idukki, Malappuram and Kozhikode
• October 22: Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki
• October 23: Kozhikode and Wayanad
• October 24: Kannur and Kasaragod

A yellow alert (heavy rainfall of 7–11 cm in 24 hours) has been issued for:

• October 20: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, and Lakshadweep
• October 21: All districts in Kerala
• October 22: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wyanad, Kannur and Kasaragod
• October 23: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Malappuram, Kannur and Kasaragod 

The IMD has urged residents in the alert zones to remain cautious, avoid waterlogged areas, and follow instructions from local authorities.

The northeast monsoon continues to remain active over Kerala. Hence, the weather agency has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall and thunderstorms across several districts in the coming days.

According to the IMD, the well-marked low-pressure area over the southeast Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep region off the Kerala–Karnataka coasts is likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression within the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, an upper air cyclonic circulation over the south Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal is expected to give rise to another low-pressure area around October 21. This system may intensify into a depression over the central and adjoining west-central parts of the south Bay of Bengal in the following 48 hours.

Another cyclonic circulation now lies over south Kerala and the adjoining Comorin area. A trough extends from the well-marked low-pressure area over the southeast Arabian Sea to the southwest Bay of Bengal across the cyclonic circulation over south Kerala, Comorin, and Sri Lanka.

Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30–40 kmph are very likely to occur at one or two places over Kerala and Lakshadweep till October 23. The IMD has issued a warning to fishermen in Kerala and Lakshadweep, advising them not to venture into the sea till October 25 due to rough conditions and strong winds.