Kerala Weather: IMD Sounds Red Alert For Heavy Rains In These Districts Today, Schools To Remain Closed

The weather department has also issued an orange alert for Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, and Thrissur districts.

Kerala Weather Today: Kerala is likely to witness heavy rains on Monday as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for four districts in the state. According to the IMD, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur are expected to experience extremely heavy rainfall.

The weather department has also issued an orange alert for Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, and Thrissur districts, while a yellow alert has been issued for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod.

"Rainfall activity will increase with light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy at isolated places on December 2 and heavy rainfall at isolated places on December 3," IMD said in its bulletin.

A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rain of over 20 cm in 24 hours, an orange alert signifies very heavy rain of 11 cm to 20 cm, and a yellow alert warns of heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm.

Schools To Remain Closed In These Districts

Meanwhile, the district administrations declared a holiday for all educational institutions including professional colleges and anganwadi in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Wayanad districts on Monday. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has advised people living in landslide and mudslide-prone areas to stay vigilant and relocate to safer places as directed by authorities.

Those residing along riverbanks and in dam catchment areas should also evacuate, the SDMA added. It advised regulating traffic and restricting non-essential movement of people. It also warned that waterlogging on major roads and poor visibility could lead to traffic congestion.

Flooding in low-lying areas and riverbanks, along with the uprooting of trees, may cause damage to the power sector, the KSDMA said.

"The Central Meteorological Department has informed that fishing should not be done off the Kerala coast from December 1 to 4, off the Lakshadweep coast from December 1 to 5, and off the Karnataka coast on December 3 and 4," the authority said.