The current spell of hot weather will last till the end of May and disappear with the onset of the southwest monsoon, Meteorology Department Forecasting Directress Anusha Warnasuriya said.

She told the Daily Mirror that four factors – calm wind, increase in humidity in low atmosphere that leads to sweating, loss of shade clouds in daytime that leads to direct fall of sunlight onto the ground and wind blowing from the sea – were main causes for the prevalent climate.

She said people living in the Northern Province and coastal areas would feel it more than those living in other parts of the country. Meanwhile, the department said a temperature exceeding 40C degrees might be experienced in the future.

“There are several occasions in the past where a temperature exceeding 40C degrees has been reported,” it said.

According to the heat advisory issued by the department, people living in the districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Polonnaruwa, Kurunegala, Monaragala, Batticaloa, Ampara and Hambantota, should avoid venturing outside in the next few days, particularly during morning hours, as heat strokes, cramps and heat exhaustion were some of the after effects that could occur if precautions were not taken.

Several areas including Matale, Gampaha, Colombo, Kalutara, Galle and Matara will also experience dry weather and residents were warned to take precautionary measures when being out in the open in these areas. The maximum temperature of 35.5C degrees has been reported from the Kurunegala District.

Meanwhile, the Health Promotion Bureau recommended the following measures to avoid excessive heat: Wearing light coloured, loose-fitting, lightweight clothes; wearing long-sleeved clothes to prevent body getting exposed to the sun; wearing wide-brimmed hats, using an umbrella, wearing standard sunglasses and applying sunscreen (SPF-sun protecting factor 30 or above). (Sheain Fernandopulle)