Northeast monsoon to arrive on Saturday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The northeast monsoon, expected to set in over coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south coastal Andhra Pradesh in the next 24 hours, is expected to arrive in Kerala on November 3, according to the latest forecast of IMD. Heavy rains are expected in parts of the state on Thursday. Thundershowers are likely in many parts of the state in the next four days.

Thunderstorms accompanied with moderate rains are likely to occur in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts, according to IMD.

IMD and state disaster management officials have advised fishers not to venture out into the sea during the next 12 hours.

This season from October 1 to October 31, Kerala received 306.1 mm rain as against the normal of 292.4 mm.

Normally, the onset of NE monsoon is on October 20 with an error of plus or minus five days and it was expected by October 26. Though formation of low pressure around Andaman sea and over Bay of Bengal, was expected to bring in rains, the cyclonic air circulation and the weather pattern was not strong enough to declare the onset of NE monsoon, IMD officials said.