Kerala Weather: IMD Issues Red Alert, Predicts Heavy Rainfall and Strong Winds

Rapid Summary

• Moast parts of Kerala have experienced intensified weather conditions over the past two days, driven by strong westerly winds in the lower troposphere.
• Kollam and Chavara observatories recorded the highest rainfall at 80 mm in 24 hours ending at 8:30 AM on Saturday (July 19, 2025). Other areas like Varkala, Thodupuzha, and Udumbannoor recorded rainfall of 70 mm each.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted very heavy rainfall (115.5 mm to 204.4 mm in a day) for most areas but observed mostly moderate to heavy rains statewide.
• Gusty winds above 20 knots per hour were reported across Kerala:

– Thiruvananthapuram recorded wind speeds up to 59 kmph,
– Pathanamthitta saw speeds of 44 kmph,
– Malappuram and Alappuzha had wind speeds of around 41 kmph each.

• Alerts issued by IMD:

– Red Alert: Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasaragod districts for extremely heavy rains on Saturday.
– Orange Alert: Thrissur, Palakkad, Ernakulam, Idukki districts for likely very heavy rains Saturday; northern districts retained red alerts through sunday.
– Remaining districts are under yellow alert forecasting isolated heavy rains.

• Northern and central regions are expected to receive heavier rain compared to southern parts. Rainfall intensity may reduce after July 20 but could strengthen again due to a low-pressure area forming over the northern Bay of Bengal on July 24.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The severe weather conditions persisting across Kerala underscore an urgent need for preparedness against increasingly volatile monsoon patterns due to climate variability. Rain-induced disasters like floods or landslides pose heightened risks especially where infrastructure resilience remains stretched during such extreme events.While forecasts suggest relief after Sunday’s peak intensity-with likely subside-this is counterbalanced by another low-pressure system forming toward late July that may reinvigorate monsoonal activity further affecting vulnerable coastal/northern belt communitisecture cation networks reluring eff new evacuation protocls