A low pressure area or a cyclonic disturbance has formed over Lakshadweep and the Arabian Sea which will gradually intensify into a cyclonic storm by Sunday (May 16). The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rain warning for parts of Maharashtra, Kerala and Gujarat in view of the rapid intensification of Cyclone Tauktae.

Code red alert, indicating extremely heavy rains, has been reinstated in five districts of Kerala. The IMD has predicted extremely heavy rains (red alert) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam on Friday.

Cyclone Tauktae which has formed over the Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep, will concentrate over the same region by Saturday morning and further intensify into a cyclonic storm on Sunday, triggering heavy rains in southern parts of the country.

"It is very likely to intensify into a deep depression during the next 12 hours and into a cyclonic storm [Cyclone Tauktae] during the subsequent 12 hours. It is very likely to intensify further. It is very likely to move initially north-northeastwards till today evening. It would then move north-northwestwards and reach near Gujarat coast by May 18 morning," the IMD says.

Light to moderate rainfall at most places in Lakshadweep with "heavy to very heavy rain at a few places with extremely heavy falls ( 20 cm) at isolated places is very likely on Friday, heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places on Saturday and heavy rain at isolated places on Sunday".

In Kerala, "heavy to very heavy rains are expected on Saturday and heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places are predicted on Sunday and Monday."

A low pressure area or a cyclonic disturbance has formed over Lakshadweep and the Arabian Sea which will gradually intensify into a cyclonic storm by Sunday (May 16). The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rain warning for parts of Maharashtra, Kerala and Gujarat in view of the rapid intensification of Cyclone Tauktae.

Code red alert, indicating extremely heavy rains, has been reinstated in five districts of Kerala. The IMD has predicted extremely heavy rains (red alert) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam on Friday.

Cyclone Tauktae which has formed over the Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep, will concentrate over the same region by Saturday morning and further intensify into a cyclonic storm on Sunday, triggering heavy rains in southern parts of the country.

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