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Wet weather is temporary, but protect yourself from lightning, says Met Chief
View(s):Showers or thunderstorms will occur at times in the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Western, North Western Provinces and several other places in the evenings because of low pressure in the atmosphere over the South-East Bay of Bengal, the Meteorology Department said.
Director General Athula Karunanayake said thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning and heavy winds are expected, there could be strong winds in some areas. He warned the people to take adequate precautions to protect themselves and minimise the damage caused by lightning activity.
The met chief urged the people to remain indoors during lightning and avoid open places such as playgrounds and paddy fields and not to take shelter under trees.
As far as possible avoid using wired telephones and electric appliances during thunderstorms.
“First and foremost, the rain the country is experiencing is temporary yet lightning and gusty winds can be expected during the rain,” he said, pointing out that the weather indicated that the intermonsoon period was gradually setting in.
In the East and the Uva regions, showers could be expected during any time of the day, he said, adding that in other parts of the country, showers or thundershowers would occur during the evening or night.
Misty conditions can be expected at some places in the Central, Sabaragamuwa and Western provinces during the morning.
However, the rains in the past few days had not affected the water levels of the main hydropower reservoirs in the country, spokesman for the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Sulakshana Jayawardane said.
The reservoirs such as Samanalawewa, Maussakele , Kotmale had only reached a water level of 69%.