The Department of Meteorology has issued a “Red” level advisory for strong winds and rough seas covering the sea areas off the coasts from Kankesanthurai to Kalpitiya via Mannar, and from Hambantota to Pottuvil.
The advisory was issued on Thursday (30) and remains in effect until 9.00 a.m. on Friday (31).
In the Red-level areas, the Met Department said strong gusty winds of up to 60-70 kmph can be expected at times, and the Daily Mirror reported that those waters will be very rough at times. Naval and fishing communities have been advised not to venture into those sea areas until further notice.
A wider stretch is under a lower level of warning. Winds of about 50-60 kmph are expected at times over the sea areas off the coasts from Trincomalee to Kankesanthurai via Mullaitivu, and from Kalpitiya to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle, where conditions will be rough at times.
Wave heights may rise to about 2.0-2.5 metres in the sea areas off the coast from Mannar to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota.
Conditions on land are also expected to be windy. The Met Department said strong winds of about 40-50 kmph can be expected at times over the Northern, North-central, North-western and Central provinces, and in the Ratnapura, Monaragala, Hambantota and Trincomalee districts, due to the active south-west monsoon.
Naval and fishing communities have been urged to stay alert while engaged in fishing and naval activities in the affected waters.
Red is the highest of the Met Department’s advisory levels for marine conditions, and is used when winds and sea states pose a direct risk to small craft. Similar Red-level advisories were issued for the same northern and south-eastern coastal segments in June, during earlier surges of the south-west monsoon.
