Cyclonic activity: 2-day heavy rain forecast in Kerala

KOCHI: Heavy rainfall is likely to continue in state till Saturday. IMD has issued an orange alert for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki and a yellow alert for south and central Kerala on Friday. Under the influence of a cyclonic circulation over south Kerala and its neighbourhood, a low-pressure area has formed over southeast Arabian Sea off Kerala coast and the associated cyclonic circulation extends up to 7.6km above mean sea level.These are influencing the heavy rainfall activity in state, IMD said.
Meanwhile, IMD said a low-pressure area over the west-central and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal is likely to become a depression over central parts of Bay of Bengal by Friday and intensify into a cyclonic storm on Saturday.
Stage set for a rainy weekend
IMD (India Meteorological Department) has issued an orange alert in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki and a yellow alert in south and central Kerala on Friday. It also said that strong westerly winds and heavy rain are likely to continue in Kerala till Saturday.
IMD said under the influence of the cyclonic circulation over south Kerala and its neighbourhood, a low pressure area has formed over Southeast Arabian Sea off Kerala's coast. IMD also said that a low-pressure area seen over west-central and adjoining southwest area of the Bay of Bengal is likely to become a depression by Friday and it will intensify into a cyclonic storm on Saturday. This will bring more rain.
IMD said that the first cyclonic circulation is influencing the heavy rain activity in state. Several parts of central Kerala recorded extremely heavy rain with Cherthala and Kunnamangalam recording 21cm on Thursday morning. The overnight rain caused flooding at many places in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Alappuzha and Kozhikode. Kumarakom got 20cm while Karipur, Ponnani and Thycattussery received 19cm while for Palluruthy it was 17cm.
IMD also warned of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds (30-40 km/hr) at one or two places in Kerala till Saturday. Squally weather (wind speeds ranging from 40-45km/hr to 55km/hr) is likely to prevail along and off Kerala coast. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea. Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has warned the public to be wary of strong winds as there are possibilities of tree, power poles upending and billboards being blown off in strong wind.
INCOIS issued a rough sea alert in state. High waves (0.4-3.3m) are forecast along the coast from Vizhinjam to Kasargod till 11.30pm on May 24. Current speeds vary between 18 and 81cm/sec.
According to the 24-hour rainfall data received across the state, Naval airport, Kodungallur, Enamakkal and Vilangankunnu received 14cm of rain while Perumbavoor and Choondi got 13cm. Alappuzha, Ernakulam South, North Paravur and Thennala got 12cm of rain. Kayamkulam, Vaikom, Hosdurg, Kalamassery, Keerampara recorded 11cm of rain.