IMD issues heavy rain alerts across southern and coastal states

Heavy rainfall and thunderstorm alerts remain active across multiple southern states and Union territories. The India Meteorological Department forecasts heavy rain in Coastal Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, alongside continued wet weather in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Lakshadweep, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh also face predictions of thunderstorms and gusty winds, while Odisha is expected to experience thundersqualls on October 27 and 28. Meanwhile, heavy thunderstorms continue to lash several parts of Kerala due to a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal. The weather department issued an orange alert for four districts, namely Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, and Kozhikode, warning of intense thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds. The remaining districts in the state are under a yellow alert. Minor landslips along the Thiruvananthapuram-Nagercoil railway section near Parassala station disrupted train services, leading to detained and rescheduled trains.

Context

These heavy downpours are driven by active weather systems over the Bay of Bengal that channel moisture directly into peninsular India. The weather department routinely issues colour-coded alerts like orange and yellow to warn residents and disaster management authorities to prepare for potential disruptions.