The IMD has modified the heavy rainfall alerts for Monday and Tuesday in the State. As per a Sunday update from the weather agency, heavy rainfall alerts (yellow alert) have been issued for Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad on Monday and Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Malappuram and Wayanad on Tuesday.
On Saturday, IMD had issued yellow alerts for eight districts for Monday and for six districts for Tuesday.
With Cyclone Fani (pronounced ‘Foni’) set to intensify into a severe cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, Kerala also can expect widespread rainfall over the next few days. On Monday and Tuesday, the State is likely to experience lashing winds with speeds touching 30-40 kmph and gusting to 60 kmph.
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According to a 2 p.m. update on Sunday, Cyclone Fani lay 1040 km south-east of Chennai and 1210 south-southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh).
It is expected to intensify into a severe cyclone over the next 12 hours and a very severe cyclone over the subsequent 24 hours. By then wind speeds could reach 175 kmph, IMD said.
The cyclonic weather formation is expected to move northwestwards till the evening of May 1 and thereafter re-curve gradually on a north-northeastward path.
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Weather warning
Special Correspondent adds from Kochi: Indian Coast Guard ships and aircraft have begun issuing weather warning to fishermen on board boats and directed them to enter the nearest port, in the wake of Kerala State Disaster Management Authority issuing an advisory following the formation of a cyclone in Bay of Bengal.
The warning is being issued through long-range loud hailers and on marine radio broadcast, says a Coast Guard press release issued here on Sunday.
All boats that we encountered at sea along Kerala coast and Lakshadweep Islands have been advised to enter the nearest port as soon as possible. Weather broadcast is also being given through Coast Radar Station, in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi and English, the release said.