Extreme weather : Seven updates

June 3, 2024 at 9:48 AM

  • Weather forecast for Monday:

The prevailing showery conditions are expected to continue in the south-western part of Sri Lanka today. Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and North-western provinces. Heavy showers of about 100mm are likely at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and the Galle and Matara districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere on the island in the evening or night.

  • Weather forecast for sea areas: 

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the sea areas off coast extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Matara. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the other sea areas around the island. 

Winds will be south-westerly and wind speed will be 30-40 kmph. Wind speed may increase up to 55-65 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Kankasanthurai to Puttalam via Mannar and from Hambanthota to Pottuvil, and wind speed may increase up to 50 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Galle to Hambanthota via Matara. 

  • Warning for Naval & Fishing communities:

The sea areas off the coasts extending from Kankasanthurai to Puttalam via Mannar, and from Hambanthota to Pottuvil can be very rough at times. The sea areas off the coasts extending from Galle to Hambanthota via Matara can be rough at times. Wave heights may increase about 2.0–3.0 m in the sea areas off the coast extending from Kalpitiya to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle, and Hambantota. Naval and fishing communities are requested to be vigilant in this regard.

  • Train delays:

Delays have been reported in train services on the main line and Kelani Valley line due to inclement weather conditions currently experienced. 

Signal failures have been reported between Pallewala and Ganegoda and Veyangoda and Gampaha. 

Trains services on the Kelani Valley line will terminate at Waga due to a collapsed bridge. 

  • Flood warnings:

There is a high possibility of a slow increase in the prevailing floods in the lowline areas of Kiriella, Millaniya, Ingiriya, Horana, Dodangoda, Bulathsinhala, Palinda Nuwara and Madurawala D/S divisions of Ratnapura and Kalutara Districts in the next 48 hours. In addition, the flood situation prevailing at upstream low-line areas of Ratnapura district will further prevail with a slight decrease. Residents and vehicle drivers running through those areas are requested to pay close attention to this.  

  • Situation Report as of 06.00 am: 

10 persons have been reported dead and 06 injured, while 06 persons have been reported missing due to the inclement weather conditions experienced in Sri Lanka. A total of 36,504 individuals from 9,764 families have been severely affected. 5,174 individuals from 1,381 families have been placed at 52 safety shelters as of last night. 

  • President’s directive: 

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance to promptly allocate funds to the District Secretaries to provide urgent assistance to those impacted by the adverse weather experienced in Sri Lanka. 

The President has also instructed relevant officials to collaborate with the tri-forces and the Police to reconstruct all houses completely destroyed due to adverse weather, utilising government funds, within the next two months. (Newswire)