Promising some respite for flood-ravaged Kerala, the India Meteorology Department has scaled down its heavy rainfall warning for the State from August 19.
A weather inference issued by IMD on Friday morning said the depression in the Bay of Bengal driving the current spell of rains had moved over Vidarbha and neighbourhood during the the past six hours and lay centred over southwest Madhya Pradesh and adjoining Gujarat and Maharashtra. The system is very likely to move west-northwestwards and weaken gradually into a well-marked low pressure area during the next 12 hours.
“This translates into a reduction of rainfall over Kerala from August 19,” said K. Santhosh, the Director of Met Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. “However, the westerly winds are expected to remain strong for the next two days, bringing heavy rains to most parts of the State,” he added.
IMD has issued a red alert indicating heavy to very heavy rainfall for all the districts in Kerala except Kasargod for Friday. An orange alert is in place for nine districts for Saturday.
Peerumedu in Idukki recorded the highest rainfall of 34.9 cm on Thursday.
The Met Centre here has issued a warning that heavy (7-11cm in 24 hours) rainfall is most likely to occur at a few places with very heavy (12-20 cm in 24 hours) rainfall at one or two places in Kerala on August 16 and 17 followed by heavy rainfall at one or two places on August 18. Strong westerly winds and high waves are likely along the Kerala coast. Fishermen have been warned against putting out to sea.
