The ‘downdraft’ phenomenon caused unusual and intense winds that swept across Central and South Kerala on Wednesday morning, creating a significant weather event. According to meteorologists, the strong winds resulted from huge cumulonimbus clouds, formed due to cyclonic circulation in the Arabian Sea. This atmospheric occurrence is expected to persist for two more days, bringing further windy conditions to the region.
The north-westerly track of the cyclone has led to a warning of heavy winds and rain, particularly in the central and northern districts of Kerala. However, experts predict that the cyclone’s intensity will diminish in the coming days.
Several districts experienced the brunt of these strong winds, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, and Thrissur. The wind speeds recorded in some of these areas were notably high:
Kumarakom: 57.5 km/h
Karumadi: 54 km/h
Vellayani: 48 km/h
Chettakkal: 46 km/h
Laha: 46 km/h
Ponmudi: 40 km/h
Cherthala: 40 km/h
Kottayam: 39 km/h
In addition to strong winds, heavy rainfall was recorded across multiple locations in Kerala. Peerumedu in Idukki district experienced the highest rainfall, with 173.3 mm recorded from Tuesday to Wednesday morning. Other areas with significant rainfall include:
Angamoozhy: 154 mm
Thodupuzha: 137 mm
Idamalayar Dam: 131 mm
Nilakkal: 114.2 mm
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for continued strong winds in Central and North Kerala in the coming days, urging residents to stay alert to changing weather conditions.
