Kerala is bracing for heavy to very heavy rain as the northeast monsoon is expected to begin over the state by Thursday, with the India Meteorological Department issuing an orange alert for Idukki, Ernakulam, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta. All districts except Kasaragod and Kannur are forecast to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall on Thursday.
The IMD has issued a yellow alert for the remaining districts for Thursday. Yellow alerts have also been issued for districts stretching from Palakkad to Kasaragod in northern Kerala, as well as Idukki and Pathanamthitta in central Kerala, for Friday.
The warnings cover more than rainfall. The state disaster management authority has cautioned residents about thundershowers accompanied by lightning and strong winds, with wind speeds expected to reach 40 to 50 kmph on Thursday and Friday. Such conditions can affect road travel, power infrastructure, construction sites and low-lying urban areas, although the supplied report does not identify specific disruptions or evacuation measures.
The alert comes as the state prepares for the expected onset of the northeast monsoon. The forecast places Ernakulam, which includes Kochi, among the districts under the highest orange alert category. The alert indicates the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall and requires close monitoring by local authorities and residents, particularly in areas vulnerable to waterlogging, landslides or lightning-related incidents.
Before the expected monsoon onset, several parts of Kerala recorded temperatures between 2°C and 5°C above normal maximum levels on Wednesday. Palakkad recorded the highest departure from normal at 5.3°C, followed by Kozhikode at 5.1°C. The report did not provide the corresponding maximum temperatures or explain how the heat conditions may affect rainfall intensity.
The weather warnings are scheduled to remain in force through Friday, with the IMD’s district-level alerts and the state disaster management authority’s advisories forming the immediate basis for public precautions. Further changes to the alert categories or local instructions will depend on subsequent weather updates.
