Heavy Rains Lash Kerala; IMD Issues Orange Alert For 3 Districts, Here's How To Track Rain Clouds Live

As the Southwest Monsoon officially arrived over Kerala on June 4, heavy rainfall swept across several districts of the state, leading the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue an orange alert for Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam. The weather agency also warned of thunderstorms and wind speeds of up to 40 kmph in isolated areas.

The fresh spell of rain comes as conditions remain favourable for the southwest monsoon to strengthen and advance further into the Indian mainland. Weather officials have also issued heavy rainfall warnings for more than 15 districts across western and southern Tamil Nadu.

Kerala Sees Widespread Rainfall

Heavy rains lashed various parts of Kerala overnight and continued into the morning hours, affecting daily life in several districts. The rainfall is associated with the strengthening monsoon currents over the Arabian Sea and the southern peninsula.

The IMD has advised residents in vulnerable areas to remain cautious, especially in locations prone to waterlogging, strong winds and lightning activity. Fishermen have also been urged to monitor official weather bulletins before venturing into the sea.

The Southwest Monsoon is responsible for nearly 80 per cent of India's annual rainfall and plays a crucial role in agriculture, water resources and the broader economy.

How To Track Rain Clouds And Monsoon Progress Live

With monsoon activity intensifying, many people are keen to monitor weather developments in real time. The IMD offers free satellite imagery and weather-monitoring tools that allow users to track cloud movement and rainfall systems.

Users can access the IMD Satellite Page or the Rapid Scan Satellite Images portal to view live cloud patterns across India. These platforms provide multiple viewing options, including the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and wider Asia region.

Large cloud clusters moving from the southwest towards the northeast generally indicate advancing monsoon systems. During the day, the Visible Satellite channel provides clear cloud imagery, while the Infrared channel becomes more useful after sunset by detecting cloud-top temperatures even in darkness.

Understanding IMD's Satellite Colours

For a more detailed analysis, users can access the Cloud Top Brightness Temperature (CTBT) product on the IMD Satellite Services platform.

Dark red, purple and bright white patches on these maps often indicate tall, cold cloud formations associated with intense thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. Meteorologists use this data to identify active rain bands and monitor developing weather systems.

These tools can help users understand where rain-bearing clouds are concentrated and how weather systems are evolving across the region.

Why Monsoon Monitoring Matters

The southwest monsoon remains one of India's most closely watched weather events. It supports the cultivation of major crops such as rice, pulses, cotton and sugarcane while replenishing reservoirs and groundwater resources.

The IMD formally declares monsoon onset only after specific meteorological conditions are met, including widespread rainfall across designated weather stations and the establishment of strong westerly winds over the region.

Now that the monsoon has officially set in over Kerala, meteorologists expect it to advance steadily across more parts of the country in the coming days, bringing much-needed rainfall but also increasing the risk of heavy downpours, thunderstorms and localised flooding.

As rain activity intensifies, residents are advised to follow IMD updates and local administration advisories for the latest weather warnings.