Heavy rains likely in Kerala, Maharashtra as North-East monsoon gets active

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Oct 21, 2019: Heavy rains are likely to lash several parts of Kerala and Lakshadweep in the next five days as the North-East monsoon became active over the state, according to the latest forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). An orange alert has been issued for October 21 in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Idukki, Wayanad, Palakkad and Malappuram districts, Indian Express reported.

 

Rains and overcast conditions in several parts of Maharashtra threaten to play spoilsport on Monday when voters are expected to decide the fate of 288 constituencies. A low-pressure area over Lakshadweep in the east-central Arabian Sea is causing widespread rain over Maharashtra. The rainfall is likely to go on till October 23.

Meanwhile, the national capital’s air quality turned “poor” on Sunday as the wind direction changed to northwesterly, increasing the contribution of smoke from stubble burning in neighbouring states to the pollution in Delhi.

Maharashtra and Kerala to receive heavy showers owing to the formation of a low-pressure area over the Arabian Sea. Get the latest weather updates here:

Braving heavy rains, early voters queued up at polling stations in the five assembly constituencies in Kerala on Monday where bypolls are being held, to cast their franchise. A total of 9.57 lakh voters are expected to participate in the bypolls being held in Vattiyoorkavu (Thiruvananthapuram), Aroor (Alapuzha), Konni (Pathnamthitta), Ernakulam and Manjeshwaram (Kasaragod). A total of 896 polling stations have been set up in the constituencies.

Overcast skies and light rain throughout the day, accompanied by thunder and lightning, have been predicted over Pune and most parts of Madhya Maharashtra, Konkan and Marathwada regions on Monday, the day of the state Assembly elections. “During Monday afternoon, there are chances of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning. The rainfall will be light throughout the day and intense in nature… during a short span of time… it will be accompanied by gusty winds,” said Anupam Kashyapi, head of the weather department at India Meteorological Department (IMD), Pune.

The IMD official said there is a chance of thunder, lightning, gusty winds and short spell of rain late Monday afternoon and evening in Pune.

The weather in Pune, which has been witnessing sporadically heavy rains for the past couple of days, will improve on Monday, the day of voting for the Maharashtra Assembly polls, with a rise in day temperature and light rain late afternoon. The IMD official said there is a chance of thunder, lightning, gusty winds and short spell of rain late Monday afternoon and evening.

Heavy rainfall warning has been issued for Kerala and Lakshadweep in the next five days. Fishermen have been warned not to put out to sea as squally weather with wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph is likely to prevail over the Kerala coast.

In Delhi, Mercury fell nearly by a notch in the national capital on Sunday, with the minimum temperature settling at 19 degrees Celsius. The relative humidity level was, however, high at 80 per cent in the morning.