Weather expected to improve soon

By Sirimantha Rathnasekera

Prevailing inclement weather would improve after 10 August, Director General of the Met. Department, Athula Karunaratne said yesterday.The Director General told The Island that rains would continue in the coastal areas of Southern and Western Provinces due to the activation of the Southwestern monsoon season, he said.Until then there would be continuous heavy rains in the Western, North Western, Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces and Galle and Matara districts, Karunaratne said.

“Some areas of Sabaragamuwa Province and Galle, Kandy and Matara districts will receive heavy rains over 100 ml. Wind speeds might reach 50 kmph in the western slope of the Central province and North Central, Western, North western, and Southern provinces,” he said, adding that showers might occur in Northern and North-Central provinces.

The Director General of the Met. Department said that weather warnings had been issued and people had to heed them.He added that showers or thundershowers would occur at several places in sea areas around the country.

“Winds will be westerly to south-westerly and wind speed will be 30-40 kmph. The wind speed can increase up to 60-70 kmph in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota. The wind speed can increase up to 50-60 kmph in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Batticaloa via Mannar,” Kankesanturai and Trincomalee.

The sea areas off the coast extending from Mannar to Pottuvil via Puttalam, Colombo, Galle and Hambantota will be very rough at times. Karunaratne asked the public to remain vigilant and to contact 117 for emergency assistance.