Low pressure in South Atlantic Ocean triggered sea incursion along Kerala coast: INCOIS

INCOIS logo on representational image. (Facebook)

A low atmospheric pressure which formed in the South Atlantic Ocean more than a week ago and moved into the Indian Ocean was the reason behind the sudden rough seas experienced in many coastal areas of Kerala two days ago, according to the INCOIS, which came up with an explanation for the weather phenomenon.

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), a Union government agency that issues weather warnings for fishermen in the country, has found that as a result of the low-pressure system moving into the Indian Ocean, very high waves — which reached 11 metres at some places — were created and reached the Kerala coast, KSDMA said in a statement on Tuesday, 2 April.

ഉയർന്ന തിരമാല ജാഗ്രത നിർദ്ദേശം
കള്ളക്കടൽ പ്രതിഭാസത്തിന്റെ ഭാഗമായി കേരള തീരത്ത് ഇന്ന് രാത്രി 11.30 വരെ 0.5-1.6m വരെ ഉയർന്നതിരമാലയ്ക്കും കടലാക്രമണ ത്തിനും സാധ്യതയുണ്ടെന്നും, വേഗത 5cm-20cm നും ഇടയിൽ മാറിവരുവാൻ സാധ്യതയുണ്ടെന്നും INCOIS അറിയിച്ചു.
12 PM; 2-4-24
IMD-INCOIS-KSDMA-KSEOC

— Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (@KeralaSDMA) April 2, 2024

East and west coast 

INCOIS also said that the high waves, initially experienced by Lakshadweep and the Kerala coast on the morning of 31 March, were likely to be seen over the west coast of India for another two days and then gradually weaken.

It also said that the swell surge or kallakkadal, as it is locally known, was likely to continue on the eastern coast of India (Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal) and Andaman and Nicobar Islands till today.

The term kallakkadal literally means a sea which comes suddenly like a thief.

INCOIS, according to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) statement, also said that the swell surge was the result of strong winds in the southern part of the Indian Ocean at certain times occurring suddenly without any particular indications or warning, hence the name kallakkadal.

The resultant waves cause sea intrusion in coastal areas, it added.

Also Read: Rough seas cause havoc in coastal hamlets of Kerala

Rough seas affect coastal hamlets

Strong waves and rough seas wreaked havoc in several coastal hamlets of Kerala on Sunday, 31 March, flooding houses and roads and damaging boats and fishing equipment.

The unexpected high tides and surge in the water level were experienced in the coastal areas of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, and Thrissur districts.

In the wake of the rough seas, the District Disaster Management Authority had directed the District Tourism Promotion Council to temporarily ban tourism activities in the coastal areas of Thiruvananthapuram.