The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre has issued an amber advisory for high waves covering sea areas from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Matara.
The advisory was issued at 4.00 p.m. on Sunday and remains in force until 4.00 p.m. on Monday. Wave heights in the affected areas could rise to between 2.0 and 3.0 metres, the Department of Meteorology said.
Seawater inundation is also possible in nearshore areas from Chilaw to Matara via Colombo and Galle.
Naval and fishing communities operating in the affected waters, along with coastal residents in the identified areas, have been urged to remain vigilant and take precautions.
What has changed since Saturday
The advisory extends and shifts a warning that has been running along the west and south coasts for several days. Saturday’s bulletin warned of sea inundation on the southern coast hours after the department had eased its wave ceiling to 2.5 metres, and placed the inundation risk between Beruwala and Matara.
Sunday’s advisory raises the ceiling back to 3.0 metres and widens the inundation stretch northward from Beruwala to Chilaw, bringing the Colombo and Negombo coastline inside the warning. The wave window itself now runs the full length from Puttalam round to Pottuvil.
Ada Derana’s report did not carry a wind component, unlike Saturday’s advisory, which had covered gusts of 50 to 60 kmph from Kankesanturai to Puttalam via Mannar and from Hambantota to Pottuvil.
The sea has been rough along this coast for much of August, with amber advisories issued on August 12, August 21, August 26 and August 28.
No other verified newsroom had carried Sunday’s 4.00 p.m. advisory at the time of writing.
