The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has declared a red alert for Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka till Thursday after numerous portions of the states experienced abnormally heavy rainfall and floods since Monday.
A red category warning indicates that local authorities must take quick measures to avert tragedies caused by excessive rain.
“An east-west shear zone has developed [in the region], which normally happens during weak monsoon conditions. In such zones, the easterly winds move to the north and westerly winds to the south. This is an area of high convergence and because of this, central and northern parts of Kerala are likely to record extremely heavy rainfall continuously for three days, while parts of Tamil Nadu will also receive very heavy showers. There can be localised flooding incidents…hilly areas of the Western Ghats may experience landslides, mudslides, etc. People in these areas should take precautions to prevent impact from extreme rainfall and associated disasters,”
M Mohapatra, director general of IMD.
Enamakkal in Kerala’s Thrissur district received 23 cm of rain between Monday and Tuesday; Kochi airport area, Kodungallur, and Chalakkudy received 21 cm each; Aluva received 18 cm; Neryamangalam received 17 cm; and Peerumedu, Piravam, Ernakulam South, Perumbavur, Kollengode, Ambalavayal, and Vilangankunnu received 15 cm each. Shirali in Uttara Kannada had 29 cm of rain, Subramanya in Dakshin Kannada 22 cm, and Karwar 11 cm in Karanataka.
Based on the projection, a shear zone is now travelling over southern India at medium tropospheric levels and will progressively migrate northward over the next 4-5 days. At low tropospheric levels, a north-south trough is also travelling from south Chhattisgarh to the Comorin region. The western end of the monsoon trough is north of its typical position, while the eastern end is close to it.
The monsoon trough is expected to be close or south of its typical location beginning August 5. The IMD predicts widespread rainfall with scattered heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning across Rayalaseema and Lakshadweep from August 2-4, south Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on August 6, and Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, and Kerala till August 6.
Intermittent heavy rain is expected across southern interior Karnataka on Tuesday and August 6; north interior Karnataka from August 4-6; Kerala, Mahe, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal on August 5; and coastal Karnataka on August 6. Isolated exceptionally heavy rainfall is also expected across Kerala, Mahe, and neighbouring Tamil Nadu through August 4; south interior Karnataka on August 3-5; and coastal Karnataka from August 2-5.
Furthermore, extensive rain and thunderstorms are expected in the Konkan area and Goa from August 4-6; Chhattisgarh, east Madhya Pradesh, and central Maharashtra on August 5 and 6; and Vidarbha and Marathwada on August 6.
Image credits: wikipedia commons
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