The prevailing rainy weather in the western parts of the island may continue with thunderstorms expected this week, the Meteorology Department said.
Department Deputy Director S.R.Jayasekare said that as it was the tail-end of the south-west monsoon, the wind flow was weak and moisture was widespread in these areas causing thunderstorms.
“We can expect strong winds along with thundershowers, so the public should be vigilant during thunderstorms,” he said.The Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and Galle and Matara districts would experience these conditions while the Uva, Eastern and North Central provinces too would experience moderate thundershowers.
The speed of the winds may increase up to 40km/h in the south-eastern and Gulf of Mannar areas causing rough sea conditions. “By next week the heavy showers would lessen but thundershowers would be experienced in the mornings and afternoons. As the south-west monsoon is ending it is difficult to predict of the wind flow as it is likely to blow in various directions,” he said.
Mr. Jayasekare said that the present rainy weather was due to low-pressure conditions in the atmosphere surrounding the island and has no connection with the recent heavy showers which displaced more than three million people in India. | 
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