Kochi: The IMD issued a heavy rainfall warning for several places from Sunday to Tuesday. A yellow alert was issued for Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur and Kozhikode on Sunday.

Conditions are favourable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon over some parts of the south Arabian Sea, Maldives and Comorin area, as well as some parts of the South Bay of Bengal, the entire Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the remaining parts of the Andaman Sea and some parts of the central Bay of Bengal during the next three to four days.The upper air cyclonic circulation over the Andaman Sea persists and now extends above mean sea level, tilting southwestwards with height. An upper air cyclonic circulation lies over the southwest Bay of Bengal adjoining the Tamil Nadu coast. The trough from west Vidarbha to north Kerala across Marathwada and Interior Karnataka became less marked.According to the 24-hour rainfall recorded on Wednesday morning, Nilambur and Kanjirapuzha recorded 8cm, Cherthala recorded 6cm and Vaikom got 5cm. Maximum temperatures were above normal in Palakkad, which recorded the highest maximum temperature of 37.1°C.Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds with speeds reaching 40 to 50kmph are very likely to occur at one or two places over Kerala on Wednesday and Sunday. Squally winds with speeds of 45kmph to 50kmph, gusting to 55kmph, are likely to prevail over the south Tamil Nadu coast, Gulf of Mannar and adjoining Comorin area, as well as over some parts of the Southwest Bay of Bengal.Incois issued a swell surge alert for Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kannur, Kasaragod, Kollam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur. Swell waves in the range of 15.0 to 17.0 seconds period with 0.5 to 0.6m height are forecast until 23:30 hours on Thursday. It advised that there is a possibility of surging waves and boats should ply with utmost vigilance and recreation should be undertaken with due care.