Thiruvananthapuram, 02 Oct (H.S.): The India Meteorological Department has forecast isolated heavy rainfall in several districts of Kerala until Monday and issued yellow alerts for Sunday and Monday, covering five districts in all.

On Sunday, the warning covers Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Idukki. On Monday, yellow alerts will be in force in Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Malappuram, according to the department.

The latest forecast indicates that heavy rainfall may occur at isolated places within the districts under alert. It does not indicate that every part of these districts will receive the same amount of rain throughout the warning period.

The department defines heavy rainfall as precipitation ranging from 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm over a 24-hour period. The yellow alerts have been issued in view of the possibility of rainfall within this category.

Pathanamthitta and Idukki feature in the warnings for both Sunday and Monday, while Kottayam and Ernakulam are covered by the Sunday advisory. Malappuram joins the list of districts under warning on Monday.

The district-wise forecast places the focus of Sunday's alerts on four districts, with the warning extending to three districts on Monday. The predicted rainfall is described as isolated heavy rain rather than a uniform spell across the entire State.

Meanwhile, the meteorological department said there was no restriction on fishing along the Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep coasts today.

The fishing advisory applies to the three coastal regions mentioned by the department. The rainfall warnings, meanwhile, concern the specified districts and days, with separate alerts issued for Sunday and Monday.

The latest bulletin therefore indicates the possibility of locally heavy rainfall in parts of Kerala through Monday, while allowing fishing activities along the Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep coasts today. The districts included in the yellow alerts vary between the two days, although Pathanamthitta and Idukki remain common to both lists.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman