Thiruvananthapuram, 31 Oct (H.S.): A fresh weather system over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting isolated heavy rainfall across Kerala from Sunday to Wednesday.

A well-marked low-pressure area lies over the southeast Bay of Bengal, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the adjoining Andaman Sea. According to the IMD, it is likely to strengthen into a depression within six hours and intensify further into a cyclonic storm during the subsequent 24 hours.

The system is expected to move west-northwestwards and reach the west-central Bay of Bengal, near the Andhra Pradesh coast, by Monday evening. The forecast indicates its likely approach towards the coast but does not specify a landfall location.

In Kerala, the weather department has issued yellow alerts for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki districts on Sunday. On Monday, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram and Wayanad will remain under yellow alert as conditions become favourable for isolated heavy showers.

Rainfall is also likely to be accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30–40 kmph. The forecast covers a four-day spell, with heavy rain expected at isolated locations rather than uniformly across the state.

Several other atmospheric systems are contributing to the unsettled weather. The remnant of the very severe cyclonic storm referred to as “Arnabi” in the supplied weather account persists as a low-pressure area over southeastern Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring areas.

A cyclonic circulation is also situated over the southern Maharashtra coast and adjoining areas. Meanwhile, a trough extends from the southeast Arabian Sea, off the southern Kerala–Karnataka coast, towards the upper-air cyclonic circulation near southern Maharashtra.

The IMD attributed Kerala’s rainfall outlook to the combined influence of these systems. Idukki figures in the yellow-alert list for both Sunday and Monday, while the other districts listed differ between the two days.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman