The IMD issued a red alert on 19 and 20 May for Kerala's Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki districts.
Rainfall (Creative Commons)
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday, 18 May predicted heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the coming days.
The IMD issued a red alert on 19 and 20 May for Kerala’s Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki districts, and an orange alert for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam.
The weather department further issued an orange alert in nine districts in Kerala for 21 May and said some of them were likely to receive rains similar to that of a red alert.
IMD has also predicted that rainfall in Tamil Nadu will continue till 22 May. The southern state has been witnessing rainfall for the last two days and is likely to receive rainfall till 20 May.
Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tiruppur and Virudhunagar, Nilgiris and Tenkasi districts are expected to receive extremely heavy rainfall.
Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, has warned of enhanced rainfall activity over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal during the next five days.
As Tamil Nadu witnessed heavy rain on 17 May, a teenager who was taking a bath at the Old Courtallam Falls in Tenkasi, was swept away in sudden flash floods.
Light to moderate rainfall at many places with isolated heavy to very heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning with strong winds, with speed reaching 30-40 kmph is likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal during the next five days till 21 May, under the influence of upper air cyclonic circulations over the region.
“Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Theni, Dindigul, Tenkasi, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram districts,” the RMC bulletin said.
Heavy rain is likely to occur in several other districts including Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tirupattur, Madurai, Sivagangai, Virudhunagar, and Thoothukudi, it said.
Regarding Chennai and neighbouring areas, the bulletin said that for the next seven days (from 17 May to 23), the sky condition was likely to be generally or partly cloudy. “Moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning is likely to occur in some areas,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Nilgiris district administration asked tourists to defer their holiday plans till 20 May.
Nilgiris District Collector M Aruna said the IMD has issued an “orange alert” forecast, which means very heavy rain of 6 cm-20 cm is expected on 18, 19, and 20 May.
“Those coming here should have all the required protection. If possible, you can avoid travelling here during this period,” she told reporters after chairing a meeting with officials of the Revenue, Police and Fire and Rescue Services department on rain preparedness.
The collector said all the departments concerned are on standby.
IMD has also predicted that thunderstorms with lightning, accompanied by gusty winds, were very likely to occur at one or two places in Kerala between 19 May and 22 May.
A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rain of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while an orange alert means very heavy rain (6 cm to 20 cm). A yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 to 11 cm.
(Edited by Neena with PTI inputs)
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