Sri Lanka is preparing for widespread heavy rainfall starting October 13, driven by a low-pressure area developing over the southeastern Bay of Bengal. The Department of Meteorology confirmed that showers or thundershowers are expected to impact most parts of the island over the coming days, prompting warnings for both inland residents and maritime operators to remain vigilant.
Significant precipitation levels between 100 and 150 millimetres are forecast at several locations across the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, and Southern provinces. Meanwhile, fairly heavy falls exceeding 75 millimetres are anticipated in other sectors of the country. Residents in parts of the Sabaragamuwa, Central, and Uva provinces should also expect misty conditions during the early hours of the morning. The public has been advised to exercise caution to mitigate hazards associated with localized strong winds and lightning during convective activity.
Key Developments
- Atmospheric Disturbance: A low-pressure area over the southeastern Bay of Bengal is set to trigger heavy rainfall across Sri Lanka beginning October 13.
- High-Impact Zones: Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, and Southern provinces could receive rainfall between 100 and 150 millimetres, with other areas exceeding 75 millimetres.
- Visibility Warnings: Misty conditions are expected during early morning hours in the Sabaragamuwa, Central, and Uva provinces.
- Maritime Hazard: Sea areas around the island face potential squalls with gusts reaching 60 to 70 kilometres per hour and very rough conditions during thundershowers.
Marine conditions around the island are forecast to see showers or thundershowers over the next 24 hours. Northeasterly or variable winds will generally range from 20 to 30 kilometres per hour, keeping open waters slight to moderate. However, sea conditions can rapidly turn very rough during storms, accompanied by localized wind gusts between 60 and 70 kilometres per hour. Naval and fishing communities have been urged to closely monitor updated weather bulletins and official advisories as the weather system progresses.