Heavy rainfall warning! IMD issues yellow alert for 8 Kerala districts

IMD Yellow Alert: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday, May 8, forecast moderate to heavy rainfall in Kerala in the coming days, putting several districts on yellow alert.

Eight Kerala Districts Put on Yellow Alert

The IMD issued a yellow alert for eight districts in the state. These districts, according to the district rainfall forecast issued by the Meteorological Centre Thiruvananthapuram, are

• Ernakulam,
• Idukki,
• Kottayam,
• Alappuzha,
• Pathanamthitta,
• Kollam,
• Thiruvananthapuram and
• Kozhikode districts

While the other districts are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall, it added.

What is a Yellow Alert?

A yellow alert means that heavy rainfall is expected over the next 24 hours. This can range from 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm.

The warning is issued as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety in rain-affected and vulnerable areas.

Thunderstorms and Gusty Winds Likely in South India

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), scattered to isolated thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (30-50 kmph) are likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, Kerala and Mahe, Lakshadweep and interior Karnataka during the next 5 days; with lightning over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Rayalaseema and Telangana during the next 4 days and over coastal Karnataka during May 7-9, with lightning over coastal Karnataka on May 10 and 11.

Heavy Rainfall Warning for Southern States

Isolated heavy rainfall is also likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal and Kerala and Mahe during the next 7 days and over South Interior Karnataka on May 7-8.

Rain and Thunderstorm Activity Expected in Northwest India

Meanwhile, in Northwest India, isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds (speed reaching 30-50 kmph) is likely over Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi, and Punjab on 07th; and over Uttar Pradesh and East Rajasthan on May 7. Thundersquall (wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph) is likely over Uttarakhand on May 8.

Fresh Wet Spell Likely Across Northern States

Another fresh wet spell with scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall/snowfall with isolated thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds (speed reaching 40-50 kmph) is likely over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh, East Rajasthan during May 11-13 over East Uttar Pradesh on May 12-13 and West Uttar Pradesh on May 11.

On a separate note, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) also said in its latest monthly outlook that India is likely to experience above-normal rainfall in May 2026 even as temperature patterns remain mixed across regions, with some parts expected to face above-normal heatwave conditions.

"During May 2026, maximum temperatures are expected to be normal to below normal across many parts of the country," the IMD said in a press release issued by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. However, it added that "above-normal temperatures are likely in many parts of southern peninsular India, some parts of the northeast, and northwest India."

The weather agency said minimum temperatures are expected to remain above normal over large parts of the country. However, some regions in northwest, central and adjoining peninsular India may see normal to below-normal night temperatures. For more details, read

With ANI Inputs