Kerala, Karnataka on flood alert as IMD warns of extremely heavy rainfall

📌 Summary:

• The IMD forecast extremely heavy rainfall (over 200 mm in 24 hours) over Karnataka and Kerala, with a risk of major rivers breaching banks and widespread flooding this week
• Heavy to very heavy rainfall (70-200 mm/24 hrs) likely over Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Northeast India and sub-Himalayan West Bengal over the next week
• The Central Water Commission (CWC) issued flood warnings for Kerala (rivers Bharathapuzha, Periyar, Meenachil, Chalakudy, Pamba), Karnataka (Cauvery, Netravati, Tungabhadra) and West Bengal (Teesta, Raidak, Sankosh) till June 10
• Southwest Monsoon, after its June 4 onset, has advanced for a fourth straight day into Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; northern Kerala and coastal Karnataka on "orange" alert till Wednesday
• Monsoon arrived early or on time everywhere except a marginally delayed Northeast; Mawsynram recorded 110 mm in a day

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Disaster Management — urban floods and riverine flooding, early-warning systems (IMD, CWC), and GS1 Geography — Southwest Monsoon onset and progression

📝 Prelims Facts:

• IMD (India Meteorological Department) is under the Ministry of Earth Sciences; issues colour-coded alerts (green/yellow/orange/red)
• Central Water Commission (CWC) is the apex flood-forecasting body under the Ministry of Jal Shakti
• Southwest Monsoon normally onsets over Kerala around June 1; "extremely heavy rainfall" = >204.5 mm/24 hrs (IMD category)

🔑 Key Term: Orange alert — IMD warning meaning "be prepared" for very heavy rainfall/severe weather, one level below the highest red alert