Thiruvananthapuram: In relief for Keralites who were reeling under searing summer, rain and heavy winds have been forecast. A depression in Bay of Bengal off Sri Lanka is likely to hit Indian coasts as Cyclone Fani, the Met predicts, bringing in its wake rain in Kerala too.
Though Fani will be hitting coastal Tamil Nadu, heavy winds from Friday and rain from April 29 to May 1 can be expected in Kerala, the Met department said.
The low-pressure system over Bay of Bengal is expected to become severe tomorrow (Saturday) and a cyclone by April 30. Winds up to 100km/hr are expected to hit coastal Tamil Nadu. Winds in Kerala could be as strong as 50km/hr.
Yellow alert has been declared in Malappuram, Thrissur, Ernakulam and Idukki since heavy rain is expected on April 29. With seas turning rough, restrictions on fishing have been imposed. Alert have been issued for thre Puducherry coast too over the looming cyclone.
Suggested by Bangladesh, the name 'Fani' means 'fan' in Bangla.
Normal monsoon
India is likely to receive average monsoon rains this year, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted last week. This has raised expectations of higher farm and economic growth in the country, where half of the farmland lacks irrigation.
Monsoon rains are expected to be 96 per cent of a long-term average, M Rajeevan, secretary at the Ministry of Earth Sciences, had said.
Though private weather agency Skymet has predicted a deficient monsoon for India this year, Kerala might not be affected. Karnataka might have a weak monsoon. However, only the prediction from weather department will be considered for official purposes.
The IMD defines average, or normal, rainfall as between 96% and 104% of a 50-year average of 89 centimetres for the entire four-month rainy season beginning June.
The south-west monsoon typically touches the Indian mainland around June 1 through the Kerala coast. This branch which came via the Bay of Bengal further moves towards Orissa and then turns to cover the Indo-Gangetic plain. Another branch of this monsoon also enters from the Arabian sea and travels north-east towards the Himalayas.
Earlier, it was reported that 61% drop in summer rains was observed in Kerala this year. Average temperatures in March-April were not higher compared to last years, but heat was unbearable till recently. Cases of sunburn and deaths from sunrise were reported in the last couple of months in Kerala.