IMD predicts heavy rains in Kerala from Oct 2, stormy weather from Oct 6

The state of Kerala, which is just on its road to recovery from the recent devastation caused by heavy rains and floods in August, is expected to receive heavy rainfall in the coming days as well, starting from Tuesday.

Speaking to TNM, an official at the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) office in Thiruvananthapuram said that it has been predicted that parts of the state will experience heavy rainfall, ranging between 7 cm and 11 cm, from October 2 to the morning of October 5. The official also went on to say that on October 5, parts of Kerala will experience heavy to very heavy rainfall (12-20 cm).

The IMD has also predicted that the Northeast monsoon will arrive in Kerala after October 15. “Even if the Northeast monsoon is predicted after October 15, the rains that have been experienced in various parts of the state are likely to continue till October 5,” added the IMD official.

In a press release put out on Sunday evening, the IMD has said that “a low pressure area is likely to form over South East Arabian sea around October 6, 2018.”

“It is likely to intensify into a depression and move northwestwards during subsequent 48 hours (i.e October 7 and 8),” said IMD.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in his Facebook post on Sunday had said that on account of the sea becoming rough because of the low pressure system, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has instructed fishermen to refrain from venturing into seas after October 6.

“Efforts were also taken to communicate this information to those who have already left for fishing with a plan for long duration sailing. Efforts will be taken to bring them back before October 5,” the Chief Minister’s office (CMO) said in their Facebook post.

“Those who are going from today are instructed to return before October 5. The Fisheries department has also been directed to ready water ambulances and emergency rescue boats for emergencies,” added the CMO.

CMO also said that the fisheries department was instructed to deliver the warning message to fishing villages, harbours, religious places of worship, representatives and other organizations active in coastal areas.