Thiruvananthapuram, 01 June (H.S.) :The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated that the southwest monsoon is likely to make its onset over Kerala by Wednesday, bringing with it the possibility of widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall across several parts of the state during the week.

According to the latest weather forecast, isolated places in Kerala are expected to receive very heavy rainfall on both Wednesday and Thursday. In view of the anticipated weather conditions, the IMD has issued Orange Alerts for multiple districts, warning residents and authorities to remain vigilant.

For Wednesday, Orange Alerts have been issued for the districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Malappuram. On Thursday, the warning has been extended to Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, and Kozhikode districts, where intense rainfall is expected at isolated locations.

The weather department has also issued rain warnings for all districts of Kerala on both days. For Monday, Yellow Alerts have been declared in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, and Kannur districts, where heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places.

Meteorologists have noted that conditions remain favourable for the southwest monsoon to advance into Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu within the next three to four days. The monsoon is also expected to expand further over larger areas of the southwest and southeast Arabian Sea, the Lakshadweep region, and several parts of the Bay of Bengal.

The current weather activity is being influenced by multiple cyclonic circulations over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. One cyclonic circulation is positioned over the southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining south Kerala coast at an altitude of 3.1 km to 5.8 km above mean sea level. Another circulation persists over the southwest Arabian Sea, extending up to 7.6 km in height. A third cyclonic system has developed over the central-east and adjoining northeast Bay of Bengal, extending up to 5.8 km above sea level.

The IMD said the combined influence of these weather systems is likely to trigger widespread rainfall across Kerala over the coming days, marking the effective arrival of the southwest monsoon season and raising the possibility of localized flooding, waterlogging, and travel disruptions in vulnerable areas.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman