Monsoon regains strength over Kerala; heavy rain likely from September 23

Kerala has received widespread rainfall across most districts, easing nearly two weeks of summer-like conditions as the southwest monsoon regained strength over the State. The revival has been driven by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, with temperatures returning to normal in several parts of Kerala.

Udumbannoor in Idukki recorded the highest rainfall of 13 cm in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Monday. Peerumedu in Idukki, Angadipuram in Malappuram and Athirappilly in Thrissur each received 11 cm.

In its bulletin on Monday, the India Meteorological Department said the low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal had intensified into a well-marked low-pressure area over the west-central and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal. The system is expected to move west-northwestwards and strengthen into a depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal within 24 hours, and further into a deep depression over the following 24 hours. It is then likely to approach the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts by the morning of September 23.

Monsoon conditions over Kerala have also been reinforced by an upper-air cyclonic circulation over central Tamil Nadu and its neighbourhood, along with a trough running from the southeast Arabian Sea to the circulation associated with the well-marked low-pressure area. The trough now extends across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the southwest Bay of Bengal, passing through the centre of the cyclonic circulation over central Tamil Nadu.

The IMD issued a yellow alert for eight districts, from Thiruvananthapuram to Thrissur, on Monday, warning of isolated heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours.

After a brief lull on Tuesday, rainfall is expected to intensify as the system moves closer to the coast, with widespread showers likely across the State on September 24 and 25.