The Department of Meteorology has issued a combined heavy-rainfall and rough-seas advisory for Sunday June 8, valid until 10:30 a.m. on June 8, warning of falls above 100mm inland and gusts of up to 70 kmph at sea.

Showers or thundershowers are expected at times across the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts, with heavy falls of around 100mm likely at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in those four districts. A few showers may occur in Anuradhapura and Hambantota districts.

Strong winds of 40 to 50 kmph can be expected at times over the western slopes of the central hills, the Northern and North Central provinces, and Hambantota and Trincomalee districts, with fairly strong winds of 30 to 40 kmph elsewhere. The public has been urged to take precautions against localised strong winds and lightning.

The Department of Irrigation said water levels in the Kelani and Kalu rivers are expected to rise. Residents living near the Kelani, Kalu, Attanagalu and Gin river basins have been advised to remain alert to further notices. Water in the Attanagalu Oya at Dunamale, which had reached an alert level, is now receding.

At sea, the Marine Meteorological Division warned that areas from Kankasanthurai to Kalpitiya via Mannar will be very rough at times, with gusty winds of 60 to 70 kmph. Waters from Trincomalee to Kankasanthurai via Mullaittivu, and from Kalpitiya to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota, are also expected to be rough at times with winds of 50 to 60 kmph. Wave heights of 2.0 to 2.5 metres are forecast along the western and southern coastline. Naval and fishing communities have been advised to avoid the affected sea areas until further notice; the risk has been classified as very high.

Ada Derana on Sunday reported that the marine alert was issued as a formal “Red” advisory at 6:30 a.m. and will remain in effect until 10:30 a.m. on Monday — a 28-hour window covering the start of the working week.

The advisory comes as the Department of Irrigation warns El Niño conditions may affect the Maha cultivation season, though Met Department forecasts put the highest El Niño-linked drought risk in July and August.

Sources