IMD forecasts slight revival of monsoon rains in Kerala; yellow alert for 4 districts on August 18

file image | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT Although the southwest monsoon has been weak over Kerala for the past few days, a slight enhancement in the rainfall activity in expected in the coming days, influenced by the weather system over the Bay of Bengal.According to a weather bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday (August 17, 2026), the low-pressure area formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal has now concentrated into a depression over coastal West Bengal and adjoining areas of Bangladesh and the northwest Bay of Bengal. It is very likely to move north-northwestwards initially and then northwestwards across Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar during the next 24 hours.Under the influence of the system, light to moderate westerlies and northwesterlies is expected to prevail over Kerala and Lakshadweep in the lower tropospheric level. This is likely to enhance rainfall over Kerala over the next four days slightly.A yellow alert has been issued for Kasaragod, Kannur, Ernakulam and Kottayam on Tuesday (August 18), warning of isolated heavy rainfall. Published - August 17, 2026 02:13 pm IST