Kochi: After nearly four and a half months of sweltering summer, the IMD has announced that there will be an increase in rainfall activity over from May 18-20. Orange alerts and potential red alert level rainfall exceeding 20cm have been issued for the state during the period.
Two weather systems, a cyclonic circulation lying over the Comorin area and an east-west trough extending from the cyclonic circulation over the Comorin area and adjoining south Tamil Nadu to the Lakshadweep area, are triggering the rainfall activity.
According to the 24-hour rainfall recorded on Thursday morning, Urumi received 10cm, while Ranni received 6cm rainfall. Neyyattinkara, Ottapalam, Aluva, Perumkadavila, Vadakkancherry, and Parambikulam received 5cm rainfall. Thodupuzha and Kunnamkulam received 4cm rainfall.
Maximum temperatures increased in Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Thrissur districts. Kannur airport recorded the highest maximum temperature of 37.2°C. IMD said the southwest monsoon is likely to commence over Kerala on May 31 with a model error of plus or minus four days. In 2022, the monsoon arrived on May 29.
According to IMD’s rainfall data for summer, the state has a 40% deficiency.