By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
August 17, 2018, 1:32:28 PM EDT
Some relief is on the way to the hard-hit Indian state of Kerala, where the death toll from incessant monsoon downpours has exceeded 320.
The death toll from more than a week of downpours triggering flooding, mudslides and transportation chaos in Kerala rose to 324 on Friday, according to Kerala’s Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan.
More than 223,000 people have been displaced by the flooding, seeking shelter in over 1,500 relief camps. Boats and helicopters have been utilized to rescue residents from flooded areas.
"Kerala is facing its worst flood in 100 years," Vitaya stated. "Eighty dams have been opened."
People move past a flooded area in Thrissur, in the southern Indian state of Kerala, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo)
Downpours threaten to worsen the situation this weekend with an additional 50-100 mm (2-4 inches) expected with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 150 mm (6 inches).
Some relief will come to Kerala as the surge of moisture shifts northward and allows downpours to become fewer and less intense for the rest of next week.
"There can still be showers that occasionally dampen the state, but rainfall will be significant less than the past two weeks," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Thompson said.
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While residents should still be mindful of downpours capable of worsening the flooding situation, such incidents may occur on a much more localized level.
The heavy rain easing will give floodwaters in most areas an opportunity to recede and allow residents and crews to start the painstaking task of cleaning up from the devastation.
Residents should continue to follow the advice of local officials to protect themselves against the hazards that remain in the wake of flood disasters, such as boiling water, watching for wildlife in the mud and protecting oneself against mold.
In this Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018 photo, an elderly woman is evacuated towards safer area in Thrissur, in the southern Indian state of Kerala. (AP Photo)
Even if stream levels recede, larger rivers may remain out of their banks as runoff from the extreme rain or water being released from the dozens of opened dams flows downstream.
Inundating floodwaters have forced officials to close the Kochi International Airport, the largest airport in the state, through Aug. 26.
Twelve of Kerala’s 14 districts have been hit hard by monsoon flooding downpours since June, according to the Associated Press. Thousands of homes and 32,500 hectares (80,300 acres) of crops have been destroyed.
Flooding downpours will not ease across all of India next week.
Frequent downpours may continue to threaten areas farther up the western coast of India, including Mumbai, with flooding through next week.
A monsoon low may unload more heavy rain and heighten the risk for flooding as it tracks from Bangladesh to eastern and central India Sunday into next week.
The heaviest rain is expected to remain south of the National Capital Region into next week, but showers and thunderstorms can lead to occasional travel delays on a nearly daily basis.
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