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N-E monsoon can bring heavy falls everywhere
Blowing in the wind: A schoolboy tries to tackle an umbrella while cycling in the wind and rain. Pic by S. Prem
Weather experts warn the north-east monsoon could bring falls of up to 100mm in coming weeks around the country after months of mixed weather patterns.
The Eastern, Northern, North Central and Uva provinces and the Matale and Hambantota areas can expect scattered showers during the day with the possibility of thundershowers in other parts of the island.
Hot days are increasing and cold days in the hill country are decreasing, adding to the possibility of thunderstorms developing inland, especially in the eastern and north-eastern areas, Meteorological Department Director-General Lalith Chandrapala said.
Seas from Hambantota to Trincomalee via Pottuvil and from Puttalam to Kankasanthurai via Mannar will be rough at times, with wind speeds increasing up to 100-120kph.
Today, the department said, winds would strengthen and there would be more thunderstorms and heavy showers in the east and north-eastern parts of the country. In the south-west, evening showers could be expected, with thunderstorms and strong winds.
The public is advised to be aware of the risk of lightning.
If the interval between a lightning flash and a thunderclap is less than 15 seconds people should seek shelter as there is imminent danger of the lightning striking nearby, Meteorology Department former director K.R. Abhayasinghe said.
“The difference between a charged cloud and the earth is about 100 million volts and the energy of a lightning flash is about 500 million joules [a measurement of energy],” he said.
Mr. Abhayasinghe added that towards evening in the weeks ahead, strong tornado like winds could occur, uprooting trees and damaging roofs..
Heavy winds and rain hit the Northern Province early this week as a result of a depression building up in the southwest of the Bay of Bengal. With wind speeds of 100kph forecast, Disaster Management units began evacuating people living in coastal areas.
“We immediately made arrangements to evacuate people, especially those in coastal areas in Mannar, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee and Jaffna. Families living within 100m of the ocean were immediately evacuated inland and shelters were provided. In flood-prone areas, people were taken to schools and temples in higher areas,” an official in the Disaster Management Ministry said.
Special teams are already formed in districts, with disaster management units, local government officials, military forces and police. About 80 per cent of the country’s coastal areas have been made aware of disaster preparedness arrangements.
The cold climatic pattern prevalent during the past few weeks has caused an increase in viral illness and asthmatic conditions. In the north, temperatures dropped by 6C.
Felling a tree that had come down for the strong winds in the north. Pic by N. Lohathaylan