The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alert for five districts in Kerala for Monday.

A red alert comes with the warning of extremely heavy rainfall (above 204.5mm).

Besides, north Kerala districts of Kozhikode and Kannur, Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur are expected to receive the extremely heavy rains in the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, barring the districts of Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram, seven other districts fall under orange alert warning and are expected to receive heavy rains (115.6-204.4mm).

The IMD had predicted that the Southwest monsoon, which is also known as Edavapathy in the State, is likely to bring its first showers to Kerala by May 27, five days earlier than the normal onset date.

Since it was raining in the southern part for the past few days, the district administrations have issued warnings to people staying in low-lying areas, on the banks of the rivers and hilly regions to remain vigilant. 

Kerala is set to receive rains for at least two more days after that as the IMD has forecast heavy rains in at least six districts until Wednesday.

Here are the predictions for the next three days:

May 17

Orange Alert: Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode

Yellow Alert: Kottayam, Alappuzha, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasaragod

May 18

Orange Alert: Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakakad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasaragaid

Yellow Alert: Kottayam, Idukki

May 19

Orange Alert: Kannur, Kasaragod

Yellow Alert: Thiruvananthapuram

Five teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in various districts of Kerala on Sunday in view of the extremely heavy rainfall. 

Upon the request of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), the NDRF teams were deployed in five districts of Idukki, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad.

NDRF said the teams are self-contained and equipped with flood rescue equipment, collapsed structure search and rescue equipment, communication equipment and PPE kits.

It said the control room at Arakkonam was closely monitoring the situation round the clock.

The SDMA have asked people to also not travel to hilly regions unless it's an emergency and to avoid night travel until the rain subsides.