The Department of Meteorology has issued a warm weather advisory for seven districts, warning that the heat index is likely to reach Caution level in places during daytime on Thursday (13).
The advisory covers Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa, Ampara and Monaragala.
The heat index is the temperature the human body actually feels, calculated by the department from relative humidity and the maximum recorded temperature rather than air temperature alone.
At Caution level, the department said, prolonged exposure to the sun and sustained outdoor activity can cause fatigue, and continuing to exert oneself in those conditions can lead to heat cramps.
Residents in the affected districts have been advised to stay hydrated and to limit strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day.
A second advisory in force
The warm weather notice runs alongside a separate Amber advisory for strong winds and rough seas that remains valid until noon on Thursday, covering the sea areas from Matara to Pottuvil and from Chilaw to Kankesanthurai.
The Met Department last issued a warm weather advisory on August 2, for districts in the Eastern and North Central provinces. Several of the districts named on Wednesday fall within the areas where farmers have been contending with dry conditions and water shortages in recent weeks.
