Isolated heavy rainfall in state till Wednesday

TNN | Apr 27, 2020, 11:04 IST

Many parts of Kochi received copious summer rains on Sunday evening

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued yellow alerts for several districts in the coming days. Fishermen are given warning against venturing into the sea. Kerala state disaster management authority (KSDMA) has issued an alert on afternoon lightning till April 30.
Isolated heavy rainfall warning has been issued for Kottayam on Monday and Wednesday, Pathanamthitta on Tuesday and Wayand on Thursday. Isolated rainfall of intensity 64.5mm to 115.5mm is predicted in these areas. Most other districts are likely to witness light to moderate rainfall till Thursday. As per the alert issued on Sunday evening, IMD has predicted lightning and gusty winds in isolated regions till Thursday. “Under the influence of wind discontinuity across peninsular India, fairly widespread rainfall or thundershower activity along with isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Kerala and Mahe during next 4-5 days,” it said. The IMD has also observed that a low-pressure area will form over south Andaman sea and neighbouring areas by around Thursday.
Climate researcher Rajeevan Erikulam said that wind discontinuity coupled with the effects of Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is causing widespread thundershowers in the state. “Wind discontinuity is caused by the convergence of easterly and westerly winds. It causes thundershowers. MJO, which is the eastward-moving pulse of clouds, has entered its second phase in the west Indian ocean. In the third phase, it will move towards the Bay of Bengal. While wind discontinuity causes thundershowers, MJO might be the reason it became widespread in the state,” he said.
KSDMA has warned children not to play in open areas or terrace under a cloudy sky in the afternoon to avoid cases of lightning.