New Delhi: Bracing for another bout of extreme weather, several southern states are on high alert today following severe warnings from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Authorities have urged residents to exercise caution as heavy to very heavy rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds, is expected to batter the region over the next 48 hours.
According to the latest meteorological bulletins, an ‘orange alert’ has been officially issued for Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry for Friday. “Squally weather with wind speeds reaching 40 to 50 kilometres per hour, and gusting up to 60 kilometres per hour, is very likely to prevail over the southern peninsula,” an IMD official stated in the daily weather update.
In Kerala, the downpour is expected to be particularly intense. The weather bureau has placed several districts, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod, under an orange alert. Local administrations in these districts have been put on standby to tackle any potential flood-like situations or landslides, given the state’s vulnerability during intense monsoonal bursts.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Tamil Nadu is already grappling with the aftermath of relentless showers over the past 24 hours. The continuous downpour has led to a rapid increase in reservoir levels and triggered severe waterlogging in multiple low-lying areas. The IMD forecast warns of heavy to very heavy rainfall in districts such as Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Madurai, and Coimbatore.
“While Chennai and its adjoining suburban areas will experience generally moderate rainfall initially, the intensity is expected to scale up significantly on October 24 and 25,” the weather department added in its advisory.
The wet spell is not restricted to just two states. A ‘yellow alert’ has been sounded for Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Lakshadweep, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where moderate to heavy rains are anticipated. Coastal and South Interior Karnataka are particularly likely to witness significant shower activity between October 23 and 24.
While the southern peninsula deals with this severe weather front, the IMD has confirmed that conditions across the rest of the country will largely remain dry and normal. Residents in the affected southern districts are advised to avoid unnecessary travel during heavy storms and to stay updated with local weather advisories.