The Department of Meteorology has issued an Amber-level advisory for strong winds and rough seas covering two stretches of Sri Lanka’s coastal waters.
The advisory runs until noon on Thursday (13). It covers the sea area from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota, and the stretch from Chilaw to Kankesanthurai via Mannar and Puttalam.
Those sea areas are expected to be rough at times, with strong gusty winds reaching speeds of up to 50 kmph, the department said. Naval personnel and fishing communities operating in the affected waters have been advised to remain vigilant and exercise caution.
A marine warning returns
The advisory reinstates a marine warning that the department’s main forecast issued earlier on Wednesday did not carry. That bulletin dealt only with inland showers and thundershowers across the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces, and included no severe weather warning for the sea.
It also extends the affected zone considerably further north than recent bulletins. The warning that ran at the start of the week covered the southeastern stretch from Matara to Pottuvil alone; Wednesday’s advisory adds the entire northwestern and northern coast up to Kankesanthurai.
Where Amber sits
The Amber band carries a lighter instruction than the Red-level advisory the department used on August 8, when gusts of 60-70 kmph were forecast and fishing and naval communities were told not to venture into the affected waters at all.
Wednesday’s wording stops short of that. Communities working in the two zones are asked to stay alert and take care rather than to stay ashore, and to follow subsequent forecasts issued by the department.
Source: Amber advisory issued for strong winds and rough seas — Ada Derana, August 12.
