Rain alert for south Kerala districts

Kochi: While several districts continue to record above normal temperatures, a slight dip in maximum temperatures is expected in south Kerala over the next few days. Besides, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rainfall alert in south Kerala districts on Saturday and Sunday. Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki are on yellow alert on Saturday, while Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki are on alert on Sunday. A thunderstorm accompanied by lightning is very likely to occur at a couple of places in Kerala until Monday. Squally weather with wind speed 40-50kmph, gusting to 60kmph, is likely to prevail over some parts of the southwest Bay of Bengal and over some parts of the Comorin area. IMD said a fresh upper air cyclonic circulation lies over the equatorial Indian Ocean and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the same region during the next 24 hours. It is likely to move west-northwestwards thereafter. A trough runs from the cyclonic circulation associated with the low-pressure area over the equatorial Indian Ocean and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal to the Lakshadweep area, across south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala. Meanwhile, several districts recorded a 2° rise in maximum temperatures. Kottayam recorded the highest at 37°C, which is a 2.6° rise above normal, while CIAL Kochi saw a 2.1° rise above normal at 36.9°C. Kozhikode recorded a maximum temperature of 35.7°C while Thiruvananthapuram recorded 35.4°C. Minimum temperature was above normal in Kannur while it remained normal elsewhere in Kerala. Punalur recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 22°C.