IMD forecasts heavy rainfall in southern states till Nov 18

New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday said that Kerala, parts of Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are set to witness heavy rainfall till November 18.

As per IMD's latest bulletin, a fresh Low Pressure Area is likely to form over Arabian Sea off south Maharashtra-Goa coasts around November 17.

Kerala, south Coastal Karnataka and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh are likely to witness "very heavy rainfall" from November 15 to 18.

A high-level meeting, held by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, has decided to stop spot booking at Sabarimala for three days in the wake of heavy rainfall warning issued for various districts in the state, including Pathanamthitta.

The Chief Minister said the district collectors could decide whether to give holidays to schools in rain-hit districts.

The Red Alert has been declared in Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur districts. Kaki and Idukki dams have been opened. Monitoring has been intensified in various dams managed by the electricity and water departments.

There are currently three teams of the National Disaster Response Force in the state. The fourth team will arrive tomorrow morning. Two teams of Defence Security Corps are ready to go to Kannur and Wayanad districts if required.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu, south interior and coastal Karnataka and Kerala are likely to witness heavy rainfall from November 15 to 17.

Goa is also likely to receive heavy rainfall on November 15-16.

Also, heavy rainfall is expected in Odisha on November 16 and 17.

The IMD predicted that sea condition will be rough to very rough over Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal during November 14-15, over west-central and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal during November 16-18 and along and off Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha and north Tamil Nadu coasts on November 17 and 18.

Issuing alert to the fishermen, the IMD advised them not to venture into Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on November 14 and 15, over west-central and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal during November 16-18, off Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha and north Tamil Nadu coasts on November 17 and 18.

"Fishermen out at sea in the above areas of Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea are advised to return to coast by November 15," the IMD said.