Depression over Arabian Sea; heavy rain likely in TN, Karnataka, Kerala

A depression over the southern Arabian Sea is likely to intensify into a low pressure and bring heavy rainfall at isolated places in Kerala and southern Tamil Nadu during the next two days, the meteorological department said on Monday.

Fishermen in the region have been advised not to venture into the sea during the next 24-48 hours, Regional Meteorological Centre director S Balachandran told reporters.

Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been receiving a decent amount of rainfall for the past a few days, he said.

In Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram city and Thrithala village in Palakkad district recorded 10 cm and 7 cm of rainfall respectively in the past 24 hours ending at 8.30 am today.

Palani in Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu received 4 cm of rainfall.

On the forecast for the next two days, Balachandran said heavy rainfall is likely to occur in parts of Kerala and southern Tamil Nadu.

Thunderstorm and gusty winds are likely to occur in parts of interior Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, he said.

Parts of Kerala have already begun receiving pre-monsoon showers. The southwest monsoon, which accounts for nearly 72 percent of India's annual rainfall, normally sets over Kerala around June 1.