Weather showing signs of improvement; Met Department

By Yohan Perera , B. G. Chathuranga and Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe   

The weather in Sri Lanka has experienced a sudden change as heavy rains  experienced during the past few days is expected to reduce.   

Director General Department of Meteorology Athula Karunanayake told Daily Mirror that weather is expected to improve from today.   

However he said North Central province could experience showers due to the inter monsoon conditions. 

“There could be evening showers especially in the North Central province due to inter monsoon conditions prevailing in the area. 

He said other areas will also experience scattered showers from time to time.   

Heavy rains and strong winds were reported from Anuradhapura. Strong winds resulted in uprooting of a large tree near the police station.   

“The low pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal has moved west-northwestwards and located as a well-marked low pressure area over the central part of south Bay of Bengal by yesterday, the 15th October 2024. It is likely to intensify into a depression and continue to move west-northwestwards towards north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 2 days,” the forecast said.   

However the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said the flood threat still prevails despite water levels in some rivers receding. The water level of the Kelani River was on the rise while Kalu Ganaga water was receding as of last afternoon. Gin ganga was rising bringing a flood threat. The Nilwala was also receding according to DMC.  

Rains exceeding 70mm were recorded from Kurunegala, Ampara, Galle and Ratnapura districts.   

Some 159, 547 people belonging to 40,768 families remained displaced as of yeaterday. Three deaths were also reported.