Weather Update: Yellow Alert for Five Kerala Districts as Cyclone Ditwah Approaches

Kerala is bracing for a spell of heavy rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms over the next five days, influenced by Cyclone Ditwah. The cyclonic storm is anticipated to make landfall in neighboring Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh by Saturday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a stern warning to fishermen, advising them against venturing into the sea off the Kerala and Lakshadweep coasts until November 30. Strong winds, with speeds ranging from 45 to 65 kmph, are forecast for the Kerala and Lakshadweep coastal areas, as well as adjoining regions of the Arabian Sea, on Friday and Saturday.

Adding to the weather concerns, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has cautioned about the ‘Kallakkadal’ phenomenon, which is expected to trigger turbulent waves until 11:30 PM on Saturday. Coastal areas of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Kozhikode districts are particularly susceptible to tidal surges. In light of the developing weather conditions, a yellow alert has been declared for five Kerala districts: Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, and Wayanad for Saturday.

The IMD has also issued a high alert for Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry, as Cyclone Ditwah, which originated over the Sri Lankan coast and the adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal, has been slowly moving northwards. As of 5:30 PM on Friday, the cyclone was centered over the same region, having advanced at a speed of 7 kmph over the preceding six hours.

According to the latest IMD bulletin, Cyclone Ditwah is currently positioned approximately 270 km south-southeast of Karaikal, 380 km south-southeast of Puducherry, and 490 km south-southeast of Chennai. Forecasters predict that the cyclone will continue its north-northwesterly trajectory over the Sri Lankan coast and the adjoining Bay of Bengal, maintaining this path until early Sunday morning.