Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala will continue to receive light to heavy rainfall over the next five days as a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm by Thursday evening.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for several districts in Kerala from Thursday to Saturday. Thiruvananthapuram district has been placed under yellow alert on Thursday.

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai, the cyclone is expected to move northwestwards across the southwest Bay of Bengal and the Sri Lankan coastline toward north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh by Sunday. Once it reaches cyclonic strength, it will be named Cyclone Ditwah, a name contributed by Yemen in the list finalised by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and UN ESCAP, reported IANS.

The RMC reiterated its earlier forecast of heavy rainfall for south Tamil Nadu and the delta districts on Thursday, followed by a sharp increase in rainfall across the State from Friday. Delta and adjoining districts are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rain on Friday, while heavy rain is expected to spread into north Tamil Nadu on Saturday as the system moves along the coast.

Kallakkadal warning issued
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has warned that the sea will remain turbulent along the Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kozhikode and Kanyakumari coasts on Friday until 11.30 pm due to the Kallakkadal phenomenon.

Fishermen and coastal residents have been advised to remain cautious due to the possibility of tidal wave attacks. Coastal residents may be asked to relocate to safer areas at the direction of authorities. Beach tourism activities have been banned across all shores in the State until INCOIS withdraws the warning.

In view of the cyclone, the IMD has also banned fishing off the Kerala–Lakshadweep coasts from Thursday to Sunday. Gusty winds reaching 40–50 kmph are expected off the Kerala coast from Thursday to Saturday.

Yellow alert in Kerala
Nov 27 – Thiruvananthapuram
Nov 28 – Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram
Nov 29 – Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Wayanad