Kerala rain alert: Heavy monsoon rains in the state likely today; yellow alert issued

Thiruvananthapuram: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the southwest monsoon will probably get active over Kerala on Tuesday. The monsoon hit Kerala yesterday, marking the beginning of the four-month-long rainfall season.

Isolated parts of the state are expected to witness heavy rainfall in the coming days. 

Meanwhile, the IMD has issued an orange alert for Kozhikode district. A yellow alert has been issued for the following districts:

• Kollam
• Malappuram
• Ernakulam
• Thrissur
• Kannur
• Idukki
• Kasaragod

On Monday, some of the shutters of Aruvikkara dam were opened after Aruvikkara was hit by a heavy downpour. It led to waterlogging in the low-lying parts of Thiruvananthapuram.

Fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea until further orders. 

Notably, southwest monsoon normally sets in over Kerala around June 1. It advances northwards, usually in surges, and covers the entire country around July 15. It is a vital indicator characterizing the transition from hot season to the rainy one.

On Monday, the IMD had reiterated that the country would receive normal monsoon in June-September. 

While addressing the media, Madhavan Nair Rajeevan, the secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said, "The good news is that we will have a normal monsoon. As per the statistical model forecast, the quantitative monsoon will be 102 per cent of the long period average (LPA). The conditions are becoming favourable for a good monsoon."

"We are expecting a little less than normal rain over northeast India at 96 per cent. Northeast India has been witnessing low rainfall over the last few years with an error of 8 per cent," added the secretary.