Red Alert Issued as IMD Warns of Heavy Rain in Kerala!
The IMD warns of heavy rain in Kerala, issuing a red alert for the region. This urgent weather update highlights the potential for severe conditions, urging residents and visitors to take necessary precautions. In this video, we'll provide the latest updates, safety tips, and what you can expect during this period of heavy rainfall.
Heavy Rain Alerts Issued in Kerala
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for four Kerala districts until May 21 due to heavy pre-monsoon rains on Sunday. Thiruvananthapuram and other areas experienced heavy showers, prompting the alert for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, and Alappuzha. The IMD predicted thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph over the next few days.
An orange alert was also issued for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, and Malappuram, predicting isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall until May 22.
"Strong westerly/southwesterly winds at lower levels will likely prevail over Kerala from May 19-23. This will cause widespread rainfall over isolated places from May 19-22. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected at isolated places on May 23," the IMD said in a bulletin on Sunday.
The sea may be rough near the shore until 11:30 pm on May 19 due to high swell waves between 0.4 - 1.2 meters. Current speeds vary between 12 - 52 cm/sec, according to the IMD bulletin.
The Southwest monsoon has advanced into parts of Maldives, the Comorin area, the South Bay of Bengal, Nicobar Islands, and South Andaman Sea on Sunday.
In Thiruvananthapuram, heavy rains on Saturday night and Sunday morning caused waterlogging in many low-lying areas. Homes in Mukkolakkal, Attakulangara, and Kazhakuttam were flooded due to rising water in nearby streams and canals. Locals blamed the lack of maintenance of stormwater drains and canals for the waterlogging. In Pathanamthitta’s Puramattam, heavy rains caused a wall to collapse in a church cemetery, damaging graves.
With more rain expected, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) advised stopping tourist movement to coastal and hilly areas like Ponmudi and Gavi. These areas are prone to mudslides and landslides during the monsoon. The SDMA also advised fishermen to avoid the sea due to strong winds and bad weather.
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