Swell waves reach west coast; red alert continues along Keralam coast

High-period swell waves from the southern Indian Ocean reached the southern tip of the country on Saturday and began interacting with the coastal regions, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) confirmed.

Swell waves with a period of 20 to 24 seconds and a height of up to 1.5 metres reportedly hit parts of Kanyakumari, while precursor waves — minor wave patterns that travel ahead of the main swell — began reaching the Keralam coast, said the KSDMA.

The impact of the swell surge (Kallakadal) is expected to become more pronounced from Saturday night, particularly during the high-tide period. The swell system is expected to continue interacting with the coast and coastal regions until 2.30 a.m. on September 28, with a possibility of inundation in low-lying coastal areas of Keralam.