The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday, 23 October issued Orange alerts for 10 districts in Kerala, warning of very heavy rainfall ranging from 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm in 24 hours at isolated places, with thunderstorms expected across several parts of the state over the next three days. The alerts cover a wide swath of the state, from the southern tip to the northern coast, prompting the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) to urge residents in high-risk zones to relocate to safer ground.

District-wise Alert Schedule

On Friday, Orange alerts are in force in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod. Yellow alerts — indicating isolated heavy rainfall of 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm in 24 hours — apply to Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, and Malappuram on the same day.

For Saturday, the Orange alert zone shifts slightly, covering Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, and Malappuram, while Yellow alerts apply to Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod.

By Sunday, the Orange warning broadens to 12 districts: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Wayanad, with Yellow alerts continuing for Kannur and Kasaragod.

On Monday, Yellow alerts will remain in force across 12 districts, signalling a gradual easing of the most severe warnings but sustained caution through the extended weekend.

Safety Advisories from KSDMA

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has issued a comprehensive set of safety directives. Residents in landslide-prone areas and localities vulnerable to flash floods have been urged to shift to safer locations as directed by local authorities. Communities living along riverbanks and in areas downstream of dams have been specifically advised to stay alert and relocate if instructed.

Authorities have also called on people to avoid unnecessary travel during periods of intense rainfall and to postpone visits to waterfalls, water bodies, and hilly terrain until the warnings are formally withdrawn. Entering rivers or other water bodies for bathing, fishing, or any other activity during heavy rain has been described as strictly inadvisable.

Road and Infrastructure Cautions

Motorists have been advised to exercise heightened caution near water bodies and at road-repair sites, which can become particularly hazardous in wet conditions. The public has also been warned to keep a safe distance from trees, electric poles, signboards, and walls that could be brought down by strong winds accompanying the storms.

Context and What to Watch

This comes amid the tail end of Kerala's extended southwest monsoon season, a period that has historically produced some of the state's most destructive flooding events, including the catastrophic floods of 2018 and 2019. The simultaneous alerting of districts across both the southern and northern ends of the state is notable, indicating a broad weather system rather than a localised disturbance. Residents, local bodies, and emergency services are expected to remain on heightened standby through at least the coming week.