Thiruvananthapuram, 26 Oct (H.S.): Four Keralam districts were placed under an orange alert on Monday as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and strong winds across parts of the state.

Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Palakkad and Malappuram are under orange alert. Yellow alerts have been issued for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Wayanad.

Isolated thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and winds reaching 40–50 kmph are likely, the department said.

The rainfall is associated with a low-pressure area over the southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Kerala coast. A trough extends from the associated cyclonic circulation across Kerala towards the north Tamil Nadu coast.

Meanwhile, a depression over the central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a deep depression and subsequently develop into a cyclonic storm on Monday.

The system is likely to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by Tuesday morning, October 27.

Moving northwestwards, it is forecast to intensify further and approach the Andhra Pradesh coast by Wednesday morning, October 28. Landfall is expected before noon between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, with sustained winds of 115–125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph.

The IMD advised fishermen against venturing into the sea off Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep on Monday. Squally weather, with winds of 35–45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph, is expected along these coasts.

Over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal, winds could reach 70–80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph, during the early hours of Monday.

Wind speeds in these areas are expected to decrease to 50–60 kmph, gusting to 70 kmph, by Monday night, and further to 40–50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, by Tuesday afternoon.

The forecast indicates a gradual reduction in wind speeds in these particular sea areas thereafter as the system moves northwestwards.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman