Northeast monsoon sets in over Kerala with an orange alert in four districts
16 October 2026
The India Meteorological Department announced the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon and the onset of the northeast monsoon.
Northeast monsoon activity already prevailed over Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, coastal Andhra Pradesh, south interior Karnataka and Rayalaseema.
An orange alert, meaning very heavy rain of 12 to 20 cm in 24 hours, was issued for Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta.
A yellow alert, meaning 7 to 11 cm in 24 hours, covered the remaining ten districts.
Kerala was told to expect heavy to very heavy rain until 21 October.
Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 40 to 50 kmph were forecast at isolated places in Kerala and Lakshadweep.
In plain words
Northeast monsoon Retreating monsoon — The winds that bring Kerala and Tamil Nadu rain between October and December as the monsoon retreats.
Orange alert Very heavy rain warning — The India Meteorological Department uses it for rainfall of 12 to 20 cm in 24 hours.