Kerala, still reeling from a recent deluge that claimed 23 lives and left three fishermen missing, is facing another round of heavy rainfall after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a fresh warning on Wednesday evening, 12 August, indicating that rainfall activity is likely to intensify in the coming days. The state, where swollen rivers and overflowing reservoirs had already triggered widespread flooding, is now on heightened alert as meteorologists track two active weather systems.

Weather Systems Driving the Threat

The IMD has attributed the renewed rainfall threat to a low-pressure area that has formed over the Bay of Bengal near the West Bengal-Bangladesh coast, which is expected to strengthen further. A second low-pressure area continues to persist over Madhya Pradesh. The combined influence of these two systems is projected to channel significant rainfall toward Kerala, with isolated heavy showers expected over hilly regions and coverage widening through Thursday and Friday.

Alerts Issued Across Districts

The IMD has placed Kannur and Kasaragod under a yellow alert for Thursday, warning of isolated heavy rainfall. For Friday, yellow alerts have been issued for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, and Idukki. According to the IMD, heavy rain is defined as rainfall between 64.5 mm and 115.5 mm within a 24-hour period. Authorities are expected to keep a close watch on landslide-prone zones and low-lying areas as the fresh spell approaches.

Coastal Warning and Kallakkadal Threat

The National Centre for Coastal Research has issued a separate warning of high waves and possible sea incursions along parts of the Kerala coast, citing the Kallakkadal phenomenon — a coastal flooding event caused by distant ocean swells. Waves reaching 1 to 1.6 metres are expected along the Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, and Thrissur coasts until 2:30 am IST on 13 August. Fishermen and coastal residents have been advised to exercise extreme caution. Small boats have been barred from venturing into the sea, and even bringing vessels ashore during strong wave periods has been flagged as hazardous. Beach tourism and coastal activities have been ordered to cease until the warning is lifted.

Scale of Damage from Earlier Rains

The fresh warning compounds an already dire situation. The previous spell of heavy rain damaged crops across more than 9,000 hectares, adding to mounting economic losses across the state. Thousands of residents continue to grapple with inundated homes, damaged roads, and destroyed livelihoods. Rivers and reservoirs had already witnessed sharp rises in water levels, and with the new system approaching, dam and river monitoring is expected to intensify.

Search Operations Continue

Rescue agencies are still searching for three fishermen who went missing during the earlier deluge. The prospect of another intense spell has added a fresh layer of urgency to ongoing operations, with the state administration stretched between relief efforts and preparedness for the incoming weather. All eyes are now on how quickly the Bay of Bengal low-pressure system strengthens and how it tracks over the next 48 to 72 hours.