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As the southwest monsoon intensified across Kerala, widespread rainfall triggered flooding in several urban and rural areas, leading to the closure of tourist centres and the relocation of families from vulnerable regions. On the second day of the monsoon's arrival, the northern districts of the state bore the brunt, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red warning for five districts – Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, and Malappuram – on Sunday, May 25.
The IMD has extended the red warning to 11 districts for May 26, Monday, including Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Idukki, and Pathanamthitta. The remaining districts are under an orange warning.
According to the IMD's warning system, a red warning denotes rainfall exceeding 20 cm in 24 hours, an orange warning indicates 11-20 cm of rainfall, and a yellow warning signals heavy rainfall ranging from 6-11 cm.
In Kozhikode, a river bank collapsed in Karingad, forcing the evacuation of four families. A landslide was reported in Nadapuram in the same district. Meanwhile, Wayanad district authorities have opened a control room in Meppadi as a precautionary measure.
Adding to public anxiety, residents in Idukki district reported that five shutters of the Malankara Dam were opened without warning. The sudden release of water has heightened concerns about rising water levels in the Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha rivers.
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) have also issued coastal alerts due to high waves and possible sea incursion. A red alert is in effect along the coastlines of Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts, with wave heights expected to range between 3.1 and 4.2 metres until 8.30 pm on May 26.
An orange alert has been issued for the Thiruvananthapuram coast, while coastal areas of Tamil Nadu's Kanniyakumari district are also under threat from high waves ranging from 3.0 to 3.6 metres.
The KSDMA has urged extreme caution, especially among fishermen and coastal residents:
Avoid venturing into the sea or onto beaches.
Secure small boats and fishing gear in harbours.
Refrain from coastal tourism or any recreational activities near the sea until further notice.
Residents in vulnerable areas should move to safer locations as directed by authorities.
The IMD officially declared the onset of the southwest monsoon in Kerala on May 24, marking its earliest arrival since 2009 and coming eight days ahead of schedule. The 2025 monsoon season is now the earliest since 1990, when rains began on May 19.
A well-marked low-pressure area over the east-central Arabian Sea is expected to move inland near Ratnagiri on the Konkan coast. Another low-pressure system is likely to form over the northern Bay of Bengal by May 27, which could sustain or intensify the ongoing rainfall in Kerala over the next five days.
The KSDMA and IMD have forecast scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall across the state till May 28, with isolated instances of extremely heavy rain expected through May 26.
Authorities have advised the public to remain vigilant and follow updates from official weather bulletins and local administrations.