Thiruvananthapuram: A depression over the southeast Arabian Sea is moving north-northwest at a speed of 7 kmph, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). As of 8.30 am IST on Wednesday, it was located near latitude 8.9°N and longitude 67.4°E, about 630 km west-southwest of Aminidivi (Lakshadweep) and 1,010 km southwest of Panjim (Goa). The system is expected to continue moving slowly in the same direction over the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, a well-marked low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal, off the Tamil Nadu coast, is moving northwest. It may intensify into a depression over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal near the north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coasts within the next 12 hours, before moving across north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and south Andhra Pradesh in the following 12 hours.

An upper air cyclonic circulation persists over the south Andaman Sea, extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level.

Under their influence, widespread rainfall with heavy (7–11 cm) to very heavy (12–20 cm) rain is likely at one or two places in Kerala on Wednesday. Heavy rain is also expected at one or two places in the state on Thursday and Friday.

Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30–40 kmph are also likely at one or two places in Kerala today.

Alerts
The IMD has issued an orange alert for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Wayanad districts. A yellow alert has been issued for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts, as well as Lakshadweep.

For Thursday, a yellow alert is in place for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod, while for Friday, it covers Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod.