New Delhi: Rainfall activity is expected to remain intense across parts of south India on Friday, October 23, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting heavy to very heavy rain in several areas, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep.
In its latest weather forecast, the IMD also warned of thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds across parts of southern India. Meanwhile, most parts of northwest, central, western and northeastern India are likely to experience largely dry weather, with no significant weather activity expected during the week.
The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, Mahe and Lakshadweep on October 23. Heavy rainfall is also likely at isolated places over Andhra Pradesh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, coastal Karnataka and south interior Karnataka.
Isolated thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph are likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal. Other areas, including Kerala, Lakshadweep, interior Karnataka and Rayalaseema, may experience thunderstorms with gusty winds reaching 30-40 kmph. The weather department has also forecast strong surface winds at isolated places over Andhra Pradesh.
The rainfall comes amid an active spell of post-monsoon weather over southern India, where atmospheric systems continue to bring moisture and trigger rain after the southwest monsoon season has ended.
A key development is the likely formation of a low-pressure area over the southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal around October 23, according to the IMD. The system is expected to move west-northwestwards and intensify further. Such a low-pressure area can encourage air to converge and rise, helping form clouds and trigger rainfall.
The developing system could influence weather over parts of eastern and southern India in the coming days. The IMD has forecast fairly widespread to widespread rainfall over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands through October 28, with isolated heavy rain likely on October 23.
Rainfall is expected to continue across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep over the next few days, with heavy to very heavy rain forecast in parts of these regions through October 25 or 26.
A fresh western disturbance could affect northwest India from October 24, although the broader outlook indicates no significant weather activity across northwest, central, western and northeastern India during the week.
