Kerala is once again gearing up for a spell of intense rainfall as two powerful low-pressure systems — one over the Arabian Sea and another over the Bay of Bengal — strengthen simultaneously, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to revise its rain warnings.
The IMD has now issued Orange Alerts for Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod, forecasting isolated very heavy rainfall in these northern districts today. Earlier, only a yellow alert had been in place for nine districts across the state.
For Friday, the warning extends to Malappuram, bringing the total number of Orange Alert districts to five. All other districts remain under Yellow Alert, with isolated heavy rainfall expected.
The weather department cautioned that thunderstorms and lightning are likely to continue through Sunday, accompanied by strong winds reaching 30–40 km/h. Residents in the affected areas are urged to remain vigilant, especially in landslide-prone and low-lying regions.
The low-pressure zone over the southeast Arabian Sea has already intensified into a deep depression, while another system near the Tamil Nadu coast in the southwest Bay of Bengal is likely to strengthen further in the next few hours. This second system is expected to move towards the northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and southern Andhra Pradesh coasts within 12 hours.
According to the IMD, Kerala’s heavy rainfall is the combined result of these two weather systems. Fishermen have been strictly advised not to venture into the seas off the Kerala, Karnataka, and Lakshadweep coasts until Sunday due to rough conditions and high winds.
