Fairly cold weather is expected to prevail over the island particularly in the Northern, North-Central, Central, North-Western and Eastern Provinces during next few days, the Meteorology Department said today.

The lowest temperature of 9.26 degrees Celsius was recorded at Nuwara Eliya today while temperatures were fairly low in several other places. The temperature in Badulla was 17.8 degrees Celsius, Vavuniya 23 degrees, Katugastota 23 degrees, Anurdhapura 24.3 degrees, Mahaillupulama 24 degrees and Colombo 25 degrees as of last afternoon.

The Met Department said few showers might occur in the Badulla and Matale districts.

Fairly strong winds of up to 40 kmph are expected in the Western and Uva Provinces and in the Ampara, Puttalam, Kegalle and Hambanthota districts while Misty conditions are expected at some places in the Sabaragamuwa and Western Provinces during the morning.

The Met Department said the sea off the coast extending from Mannar to Kalutara via Puttalam and Colombo may be rough with the wind speed increasing up to 60 kmph. The sea off the coast extending from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota and Mannar to Kankesanturai can be fairly rough with wind speeds of up to 50 kmph. The Naval and fishing communities are requested to be vigilant. (Yohan Perera)