The second monsoon is here!
Keralam is lucky: it gets two monsoons every year. The big southwest monsoon comes in June and brings rain from the Arabian Sea. It has now ended. The northeast monsoon comes in October, with winds blowing from the Bay of Bengal.
The weather office put Thiruvananthapuram and six other districts on an orange alert, which means very heavy rain is possible. Heavy rain, thunder and lightning may continue until about 21 October.
Stay indoors during thunder and lightning. Don’t play near rivers, canals or flooded roads. Water can be deeper and faster than it looks!
The Navaratri procession has arrived in the city from Padmanabhapuram Palace, carrying the idol of Saraswathi, the goddess of learning. Monday 19 October is a holiday for Durgashtami. On Vijayadashami, Wednesday 21 October, many little children begin learning to write at Vidyarambham.
Put a straight-sided glass or bottle outside, away from trees and roofs. Each morning, measure the water with a ruler, write it down, then empty it. Which day was the wettest?
World Space Week ended on 10 October with fun events by scientists from VSSC at the Kerala State Science and Technology Museum. VSSC, in Thumba, builds rockets for ISRO!
A wind that changes direction with the seasons and brings lots of rain.