The Department of Meteorology has issued a warm weather advisory for the Eastern and North-Central provinces and the Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts.
The heat index — the temperature actually felt by the human body — is expected to rise to ‘Caution Level’ at some places in those areas on Monday, August 3, the department said.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated from relative humidity and maximum temperature rather than air temperature alone, and represents the conditions felt on the body.
The department warned that prolonged exposure to the sun and outdoor activity will cause fatigue, and that continuing such activity could lead to heat cramps. Residents have been asked to stay hydrated and to limit strenuous outdoor work during the day.
Aruna, reporting the same bulletin, said the daytime heat index in the affected areas could sit at a level warranting particular attention.
The advisory covers a wider area than the one issued on July 29, which named the Eastern province together with the Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Polonnaruwa and Monaragala districts. Monday’s bulletin extends the warning to the whole of the North-Central province.
The heat warning applies to the north and east while the opposite side of the island contends with the reverse conditions. The Met Department has a Red warning in force for strong winds and rough seas from Galle to Pottuvil until 8.00 p.m. on Monday, and the National Building Research Organisation has issued landslide early warnings for divisional secretariat areas in Kandy, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura that run until 11.00 p.m. the same day.
