Thiruvananthapuram, 21 Oct (H.S.): Heavy rain is likely to continue across Kerala until Saturday, October 24, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing yellow alerts for several districts as weather systems develop over the Bay of Bengal.

Ten districts are under a yellow alert on Wednesday: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram. The forecast indicates isolated heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning.

The IMD defines heavy rainfall as precipitation ranging from 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm within 24 hours.

On Thursday, October 22, yellow alerts have been issued for Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur.

For Friday, October 23, the warning covers Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur.

All 14 districts will be under a yellow alert on Saturday, indicating the possibility of isolated heavy rainfall across the state. The alerts therefore cover different groups of districts over the coming days before extending statewide.

According to the weather department, an upper-air cyclonic circulation persists over the southwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Tamil Nadu coast, extending up to 5.8 kilometres above mean sea level.

Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the same region within the next 24 hours.

Another cyclonic circulation lies over the Strait of Thailand and adjoining parts of Thailand and Myanmar. This system is expected to move into the north Andaman Sea before tracking west-northwestwards.

Its influence could lead to the formation of a second low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal around October 23.

The system is subsequently expected to move northwestwards and intensify further, the department said.

With these atmospheric developments expected to sustain rainfall over Kerala, the IMD has forecast spells of isolated heavy rain through Saturday, with thunderstorms and lightning accompanying the wet weather.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman