Floods strong possibility with turbulence in Bay of Bengal

By Ifham Nizam

The Meteorological Department yesterday said that there could be heavy showers in the southwestern parts of the country in the coming days due to the prevailing turbulence in the Bay of Bengal.

The Irrigation Department has warned of possible floods. Director General of the Irrigation Department S.P.C. Sugeeshwara said that low lying areas adjoining rivers could be inundated.

Sugeeshwara said that due to the recent rains, some parts of the country had been flooded. The Deduru Oya and the Udawalawe and Inginimitiya reservoirs were brimful and their sluice gates would have to be opened anytime.

The Department also said if the sluice gates were opened, the low lands on both sides of the Deduru Oya, the lowlands on both sides of the Walawe River and the lowlands on both sides of the Mee Oya would be inundated.

The Irrigation Department also warned the public to remain vigilant about flood warnings.

The Director General of the National Building Research Organisation Asiri Karunawardena said that there was a risk of landslides in Badulla, Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Kurunegala, Colombo and Gampaha districts.

Low pressure in the East Central Bay of Bengal was very likely to develop into a cyclone today, the Department of Meteorology said.

It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and reach near the west Bengal coast on Wednesday (May 26).

According to the Department, forecast showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, and Southern provinces.

Fairly heavy falls of about 75mm could be expected at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Several spells of showers will occur in the Northern and North-central provinces. Showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places in Eastern and Uva provinces during the evening or night.

Wind speed can increase up to 40-50 kmph at times over the country and reach 50-55 kmph at times in the Western slope of the Central hills, Northern, North-central, North-western, and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district.

Winds will be south-westerly in the sea areas around the country. Wind speed will be 30-40 kmph.

Wind speed can increase up to 55-60 kmph in the sea area extending from Chilaw to Trincomalee via Puttalam, Mannar, and Kankesanturai and in the sea area extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota.