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Monsoon in next few days, says Met Dept, amidst hot and sticky days and threat of minor floods
View(s):By Jayanie Madawala
The South-West Monsoon will gradually establish across the island in the next few days, the Meteorology Department says.
Director Athula Karunanayake said that evening showers can be expected particularly in the Central, Uva and Northern Provinces. The monsoon has delayed this time due to the impact of the recent cyclone in the Bay of Bengal and the influence of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). “Usually the onset of the monsoon begins in May, but this time the pattern has changed,” he said.
Commenting on the unbearable heat these days, he said when the humidity in the air is high, warm moisture sticks to one’s skin for a longer period making one feel even hotter. The past few days have been particularly hot due to high humidity and lack of wind. The influence of the El Nino weather phenomenon has created the warming that causes changes in atmospheric patterns, leading to a weakening of the monsoon circulation over the region.
Director Hydrology and Disaster Management S P C Sugeeshwara said due to the heavy rainfall received in the past few days in some areas of the country, three spill gates of the Kukuleganga Reservoir were opened due to rising water levels of the Kuda Ganga and catchment areas.
An ‘Amber’ flood warning was issued by the Irrigation Department for the upper catchment areas of Kuda Ganga sub-basin of Kalu Ganga given the current rainfall situation and river water levels of the hydrological stations in Kuda Ganga, he said.
There is a possibility of minor flooding in the low-lying areas of Kuda Ganga valley located in the Palindanuwara and Bulathsinhala Divisional Secretariat divisions in the Kalutara District.
The Irrigation Department has warned that there is the possibility of roads running through flood plains of Kuda Ganga and low lying areas being inundated. Residents and motorists passing through these areas have been asked to be vigilant.
The National Building Research Organisation issued early warnings of landslides in five districts: Galle, Kalutara, Kegalle, Matara and Ratnapura.
Accordingly, people living in the Galle District’s Neluwa Divisional Secretariat area, the Matara District’s Pitabeddara Divisional Secretariat area and the Ratnapura District’s Elapatha and Kalawana Secretariat division areas have been issued with Level 2 (Amber) warning and have been advised to be ready to evacuate to a safe location if the need arises.
Level 1 (Yellow) warning is effective in the Galle District’s Nagoda Divisional Secretariat area, the Kalutara District’s Palindanuwara, Mathugama, Bulathsinhala, Agalawatta and Walallawita Divisional Secretariat areas, the Kegalle District’s Dehiowita and Yatiyantota Divisional Secretariat areas and the Ratnapura District’s Nivithigala, Ratnapura, Kuruwita, Kiriella, Eheliyagoda and Ayagama Divisional Secretariat areas.
People living in these areas have been urged to be on alert for possible landslides, slope failures, rock falls, cutting failures and ground subsidence.
According to the Disaster Management Centre, 149 people belonging to 43 families are facing hardships while 38 partial damage to properties were reported from the Rathnapura District due to heavy rainfall received during the week.
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