News
Unusual weather pattern prompts alert as lightning deaths rise
The Meteorology Department this week issued a bad weather warning of a disturbed weather pattern that will include heavy showers and lightning in the next few days in Colombo, Kalutara, Galle and Matara – while extreme drought continues in other parts of the country.
Localised strong winds could even blow away roofs and branches and uproot trees , the department said. If the winds make landfall in a cone shape, they could come as mini tornadoes.
Dried up tanks in Kataragama and (below right) in Sithulpauwa. Pix by Indika Handuwala and Janath de Silva
The coming months will see hailstorms and more disturbances in the atmosphere and bring heavy showers.
The start of the inter-monsoon season this month brought its own share of damaging weather conditions, with eight people killed in lightning strikes. Twenty-one people have died this year so far after being hit by lightning.
Strong winds were reported in Kalutara, damaging 18 houses on Wednesday. One person died in Thirappane, Anuradhapura, after being struck by lightning, the Disaster Management Centre said.
Kurunegala district experienced drought while the Kurunegala town area received heavy showers that damaged nine houses. Strong winds and heavy showers in Polgahawela and Mahawa.
Strong winds in Hambantota in the Okewela area damaged 16 houses while in the Pitabeddara area, in Matara, four persons died of lightning on Wednesday.
The Ratnapura district recorded high rainfall; three houses in Kegalle and one house in Wariyapola were struck by lightning; five houses in Yatiyantota were damaged by heavy rains; cutting slippages in Deraniyagala and Galigamuwa left about 10 houses damaged; landslides were also reported in Dehiowita and the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts, damaging houses and killing one person.
In Matale district, heavy rains and strong winds damaged about seven houses in the Matale, Abangangakoralaya, Ukuwela and Yatawatte areas.
The Meteorology Department’s Director (Forecasts), S.R.Jayasekare said lightning is a major feature of the inter-monsoon season.
During inter-monsoons the morning and afternoon can be extremely warm, and the heat during the day vaporises, water forming rain clouds. This results in late afternoon and night showers accompanied by lightning.
Flooded roads in Matara (above and bottom right). Pic by Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk
Meanwhile drought-hit Moneragala, Hambantota, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura are receiving a little rain, though not enough to fill the empty tanks. Batticaloa, Ampara, 
Trincomalee, Puttalam and Northern districts of Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Killinochchi and Jaffna are yet to receive rain to end the prolonged drought.
The Head of the Department of Geography of Peradeniya University, Professor P. Wickremagamage, said there was an overall decline in rainfall and an expansion of the area receiving thPe lowest rainfall.
He said the major monsoons this year had failed to a large extent.
He said, however, that the inter-monsoon would bring some significant falls accompanied by thunderstorms and depressions.
