The India Meteorological Department has raised a yellow alert across five districts in Kerala for Saturday, warning residents of potentially severe weather conditions as Cyclone Ditwah continues its path across the region.
District-Specific Weather Warnings
Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, and Wayanad districts are all under the IMD's yellow alert for Saturday. The weather agency has specifically warned about thunderstorms accompanied by lightning that are very likely to occur at one or two places over Kerala throughout the day.
Meanwhile, the cyclonic storm named Ditwah is projected to move north-northwestwards across the Sri Lanka coastline. Weather models indicate the system will reach the southwest Bay of Bengal near north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts by early Sunday morning.
Maritime and Coastal Impacts
Mariners and coastal communities should prepare for challenging conditions as squally weather with wind speeds reaching 45-55 kmph is forecasted, with gusts potentially hitting 65 kmph. These conditions are likely to prevail over adjoining areas of the southeast Arabian Sea and along and off the Kerala coast on Saturday.
The IMD has explicitly warned of rough sea conditions for adjoining areas of the southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep, Maldives, and along and off the Kerala coast throughout Saturday.
In response to the developing weather situation, authorities have implemented a total suspension of fishing operations in coastal areas of Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and south Andhra Pradesh coasts until Monday.
Safety Advisories and Swell Alerts
Fisherfolk have been strongly advised not to venture into adjoining areas of the southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep, Maldives, and along and off the Kerala coast until Sunday. Those already at sea have been directed to avoid multiple regions including the southwest Bay of Bengal, Gulf of Mannar, Comorin area, and the coasts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, south Andhra Pradesh, and Sri Lanka.
Adding to the concerns, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services has issued a swell surge alert for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Kozhikode. The agency forecasts swell waves in the range of 16-17 seconds period with 0.5-0.6 meter height until 11:30 pm on Saturday.
INCOIS has advised extreme caution, noting the possibility of surging waves. All boats should ply with utmost vigilance, and recreational activities in affected areas should be undertaken with due care and attention to changing conditions.
