India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded an orange alert for South Kerala and South Tamil Nadu on December 2 as the department expects isolated, extremely heavy rainfall to hit the region. While Pathanamthitta and Idukki are expected to receive 11-20 cm of heavy rain, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kottayam are expected to receive 7-11 cm rainfall on December 1.
Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam are on orange alert on December 2 as Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Idukki are said to receive isolated, heavy rainfall. A red alert has been sounded for Idukki district on Wednesday.
Taking to Twitter, IMD said, “A well-marked low-pressure area lies over Southeast Bay of Bengal, adjoining areas of South Andaman Sea, and Equatorial Indian Ocean with associated cyclonic circulation extending up to mid-tropospheric levels.” They added that based on the current information, a scattered to widespread rainfall is “very likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, Mahe, Lakshadweep, South coastal Andhra Pradesh, and South Rayalseema during December 1 to 3”.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture along the Kerala coast as the sea conditions will get very rough by December 1. Although experts say it is too early to make a prediction, there is a mounting fear that the storm could behave like cyclone Okhi, catching everyone by surprise.
According to the IMD, Tamil Nadu stares at another potential cyclone on Monday with a low-pressure area likely to concentrate into a depression bringing in more showers to the state that was already battered by torrential rains recently. The new forecast comes days after cyclone Nivar made landfall between Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry on November 26. Thousands of people were evacuated to storm shelters across Tamil Nadu and three people were killed as ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ Nivar made landfall. Andhra Pradesh too received a good amount of rain under the influence of the cyclonic as well as one death reported.
