Thiruvananthapuram: The monsoon has intensified across Kerala, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting widespread rain over the coming week.
An orange alert has been issued for Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts for today, while a red alert has been declared for Kannur and Kasaragod on Saturday due to the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall. On Sunday, red alerts will be in place for Kozhikode, Kannur, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kasaragod.
The IMD has warned of isolated heavy rainfall in the state from June 14 to 16. Wind speeds are also expected to pick up during this period, reaching up to 50–60 km/h.
As a precaution, fishing has been banned along the coasts of Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep until Monday due to strong winds and rough sea conditions.
Rain alerts have been issued across all districts starting Saturday, with very heavy rainfall likely on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
According to the IMD, the intensification of westerly winds in the Arabian Sea, driven by a cyclone in the South China Sea and a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal, is contributing to the increased rainfall activity across Kerala.