Kerala on alert as cyclonic depression forms in Arabian Sea
Heavy rains have been forecast in Kerala, under the influence of a depression over the Arabian Sea which is likely to intensify into a deep depression and further into a cyclonic storm over the next two days. Kerala had been devastated by floods in August this year leaving a trail of unprecedented destruction and had forced people to take refuge in relief camps.
The deep depression will turn into cyclone in next 24hrs
The depression over the Southeast and the adjoining East-Central Arabian Sea moved further West-Northwest and lay centered Sunday about 1,340km East-Southeast of Salalah (Oman), 1,250km East-Southeast of Socotra Islands (Yemen), and 940km West-Northwest of Minicoy (Lakshadweep Islands), a release from IMD office in Thiruvananthapuram said. Depression will turn into a deep depression in 12hrs and into a cyclonic storm in next 24hrs, it said.
Heavy rainfall likely to occur in next 48 hours: Report
The system was expected to move West-North westwards towards South Oman and adjoining Yemen coast in next five days. Rainfall at most places with heavy spells at isolated areas is very likely to occur in Kerala during the next 48 hours, the release said. Meanwhile, the Kerala Government has stepped up its vigil in view of the possibility of heavy rains.
Kerala, still recovering from August floods, now preparing for cyclone
Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely over Lakshadweep and the South-East Arabian Sea during next 24 hours and over the East-Central Arabian Sea during next 48 hours, the release said. Earlier this year in August, the South-West monsoon had claimed 493 lives in Kerala floods, the worst in the last 100 years.
