Weather conditions across Sri Lanka are expected to become increasingly unsettled over the coming hours as a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal, located to the southeast of the island, is likely to intensify into a depression within the next 12 hours, according to the Department of Meteorology. This developing system is expected to move west-northwestwards towards the eastern coast of Sri Lanka, bringing enhanced rainfall activity across several parts of the country from January 8 onwards. The Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces are expected to experience the most significant impact as the system strengthens and approaches the island.
Showers are forecast to occur at times in the Uva province and in the districts of Batticaloa, Ampara, Polonnaruwa, Matale and Hambantota during the period. Fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 50 millimetres is likely at some places in these areas, particularly where rain bands associated with the low-pressure system become more active. Cloudy skies and intermittent rain spells are expected to dominate weather conditions in these regions as moisture from the Bay of Bengal spreads inland.
In the Northern province, several spells of showers are expected, with Anuradhapura and Trincomalee districts also likely to experience periods of rainfall. These conditions indicate that the influence of the system will extend well into the northern and northeastern parts of the island, contributing to widespread wet weather across multiple provinces.
Elsewhere in the country, showers or thundershowers may develop at several places after 1.00 p.m., especially during the afternoon and evening hours. These showers are likely to be scattered in nature but may be accompanied by thunder and brief heavy rainfall in some locations, particularly under unstable atmospheric conditions.
Wind conditions are also expected to strengthen at times across several regions. Strong winds of about 50 kilometres per hour may occur over the eastern slopes of the central hills, as well as in the Northern, North-Central, North-Western and Eastern provinces. Similar wind speeds may also be experienced in the Hambantota, Gampaha, Colombo and Monaragala districts. These gusty conditions may occur intermittently, especially during periods of active weather and thundershowers.
The Department of Meteorology has advised the general public to take adequate precautions to minimize possible damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers, as the evolving weather system continues to influence atmospheric conditions across Sri Lanka during the next 36 hours.
