Monsoon catches up in Kerala; depression over Arabian sea

Thiruvananthapuram: Several parts of Kerala received moderate rainfall on Sunday, a day after the southwest monsoon set in over the state, even as a low-pressure area formed over the Arabian Sea.

The Meteorological Department said the low pressure was expected to intensify into a depression in the next two days and subsequently, into a cyclone.

Forecasting isolated heavy rainfall and squally weather in coastal areas of the state and in Lakshadweep islands, it advised fishermen not to venture into the sea till June 13.

A bulletin issued by the department at 3 pm said the low-pressure area has formed over the southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Lakshadweep area and the east-central Arabian Sea under the influence of the cyclone circulation.

"It is very likely to concentrate into a depression during the next 48 hours over the southeast and the adjoining east-central Arabian Sea. It is very likely to move north-north-westwards and intensify further into a cyclonic storm subsequently," it said.

The weather report also predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall (115.6-204.4 mm) in isolated places of northern Malappuram and Kozhikode on June 12.

After a delay of a week, the monsoon hit the Kerala coast on Saturday, marking the official commencement of the four-month rainfall season in the country.

The district collectors have been asked to be on alert in areas where landslides had occurred during the monsoon last year, sources in the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) said.

KSDMA Member Secretary Sekar Kuriakose said based on the India Meteorological Department inputs, arrangements have been made to face it institutionally.