<span style="color: #222222;">The northern districts of Kerala are bracing up to face heavy rain following the red alert issued by the Met Department this afternoon.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' Taluk level Control Rooms have been opened in the districts of Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod, where red alert has been sounded.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' Teams of NDRF, Police and Fire Department personnel have been  kept ready to face any eventuality.<br />'' An overcast sky prevails in several parts of the state since this morning with some parts receiving intermittent rain.<br />'' Many hilly regions received isolated heavy rainfall. People have been asked to avoid travelling to the hilly areas during night.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' The authorities have warned that those staying along coastal Kerala and in Lakshadweep should exercise extra caution as the sea is likely to be rough with the possibility of high waves rising up to a height of 3.1 meters. Fishermen have been asked not to venture into the sea.<br />''<br />''The Met Department said Kerala is experiencing heavy rain due to the cyclonic circulation lying above north Tamil Nadu and the trough that extends from there to Madhya Pradesh.</span>