Severe lightning warning issued for 19 districts

Thundershowers followed by heavy lightning activity are foreseen at a few places in Northern, North-central, North-western, Eastern, Uva, and Southern provinces and in Kandy district during the day or night, the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology mentioned in an advisory issued today (17).

Temporarily localized high winds may occur during thunderstorms, the Met. Department further added.

Therefore, the general public is advised to take preventative measures to ensure safety of themselves from damages within reach triggered by lightning activity.

The Met. Department also urges the public to seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees, to avoid open areas including paddy fields, tea plantations, and open water bodies during thunderstorms, to refrain from using telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms, to keep off open vehicles namely bicycles, tractors and boats etc. and be alert over fallen trees and power lines.