Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in the Uva, Central and Eastern provinces and in the Polonnaruwa and Mullaittivu districts after 2.00 p.m. today, the Department of Meteorology said.
Fairly heavy rainfall above 75 millimetres is likely at some places in the Uva and Eastern provinces, according to the department, as reported by Ada Derana and Hiru News.
A few showers are expected in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts.
The department asked the public to take precautions against temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Rain over the districts that need it
The forecast area overlaps closely with the districts carrying the heaviest drought burden. Polonnaruwa and the Uva and Eastern provinces are among the areas where more than 115,500 people have been affected by dry weather across seven districts, and where irrigation releases have been curtailed.
Whether a single afternoon of rain changes that picture is doubtful. Forecasters have warned that the deficit runs through the rest of the year under prevailing El Niño conditions, with the second inter-monsoon due from October and the government’s decision on the Maha season cultivation plan not due until 18 September.
The sun overhead
The department also noted that the sun is passing directly over Sri Lankan latitudes between 28 August and 7 September on its apparent southward motion.
The nearest places over which the sun is overhead today are Bentota, Thiniyawala, Iththakanda, Udawalawe and Kataragama, at about 12.08 p.m.
Update — ‘Amber’ lightning advisory issued
The Department of Meteorology later issued an ‘Amber’ advisory for severe lightning covering the same areas as the rain forecast: the Uva and Eastern provinces and the Polonnaruwa and Mullaittivu districts, Ada Derana and the Daily Mirror reported.
Thundershowers with severe lightning are likely at some places in those districts, and the public has been asked to take adequate precautions to limit lightning damage. Neither report gives a validity period for the advisory.
Sources
- Fairly heavy rainfall expected in some parts of the island — Ada Derana, September 6
- Advisory issued for severe lightning — Ada Derana, September 6
- Amber lightning advisory issued for multiple areas — Daily Mirror, September 6
- Department of Meteorology forecasts afternoon showers across several provinces — Hiru News, September 6
