Warm weather ahead: Met. Dept.

By Nadia Fazlulhaq

The high temperatures in different parts of the country may remain during the inter-monsoon period which is expected to arrive in the third or fourth week of March, a senior Met Depatment official said.

The satellite picture taken at 11.30 a.m. yesterday showing cloudless skies over Sri Lanka

“We are experiencing the latter part of the north-east monsoon. That is the reason the eastern parts of the country were experiencing heavy showers in the first week of this month but dry weather may prevail in many other places,” Deputy Director S.H. Kariyawasam said.

He said heavy showers could not be expected at the beginning of the inter-monsoon period, but light showers and thunderstorms with lightning may take place.

“The warm atmosphere will continue during the month of April, but there will be a humid atmosphere in the southern and western parts of the country,” Mr. Kariyawasam said.

Ratnapura, Jaffna, Mannar, Anuradhapura and Colombo recorded the highest temperatures.

Dr. B.R.S.B. Basnayake of the Centre for Climate Change Studies of the Met. Department gave reasons for the high temperatures prevailing in the country.

“On March 22 the Sun enters the Northern Hemisphere and is overhead Sri Lanka by April 8. This results in maximum heat. If the inter-monsoon season brings a good deal of rain and heavy moisture, the heat may not be felt much. Otherwise there will be a major drought situation,” he said.