Storm waves reach the west coast; red alert continues along Kerala coast

Representative image. | Photo credit: Nirmal Harindran

Long waves from the South Indian Ocean reached the southern tip of the country on Saturday and started interacting with the coastal regions, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) confirmed.

Storm waves with a period of 20 to 24 seconds and a height of up to 1.5 meters reportedly hit parts of Kanyakumari, while precursor waves – smaller wave patterns that move ahead of the main surge – have started reaching the Kerala coast, KSDMA said.

Possibility of flooding

The impact of surge (Kallakadal) is expected to be more pronounced from Saturday night, especially during the high tide period. The swell system is expected to continue to interact with the coast and coastal areas till 2:30 am on September 28 with the possibility of inundation in low-lying coastal areas of Kerala.

A red alert has been issued along the Kerala coast, suspending all recreational and fishing activities till September 28, while a mobile broadcast warning message was sent to mobile phones of people in coastal areas of the state on Friday evening.

India’s National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), which provides forecasts of ocean conditions in the seas surrounding India during extreme weather events such as high waves, surges and cyclones, has issued a surge warning for Keralam, southern Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep from September 26 to 28.

According to INCOIS, the event originated approximately 10,000 km off the Indian coast in the southern Indian Ocean on September 20 and is gradually spreading towards the northern Indian Ocean. This led to the propagation of high-energy waves with a maximum wave duration of around 23 seconds towards the Indian coastal areas. These prolonged swells combined with high tide may cause coastal flooding in low-lying areas of Kerala, southern districts of Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep islands during the forecast period.

Advice for anglers

Fishermen and coastal residents in Kerala have been advised to remain alert against occasional surge of sea water in coastal and beach areas, especially in low-lying areas. The public and fishermen have been advised not to operate small vessels close to shore. Boats should be anchored at a safe distance from each other to prevent collisions and damage. All operational and recreational activities, including tourist activities, along beaches and coastal areas have also been suspended.

Published – 26 Sep 2026 20:34 IST