Weather conditions in the sea areas around Sri Lanka during the next 24 hours are expected to be influenced by a low-level atmospheric disturbance that is currently established in the Bay of Bengal sea area to the southeast of the island, according to the Department of Meteorology. This system continues to affect marine weather patterns across several coastal and offshore regions, leading to cloudiness, intermittent showers, varying wind speeds and changes in sea conditions around the island. Such disturbances commonly influence the Bay of Bengal and surrounding waters, shaping short-term marine weather conditions across Sri Lanka.
Showers are expected to occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Kankasanthurai to Pottuvil via Trincomalee and Batticaloa. These eastern and northeastern sea regions may experience passing showers during the forecast period, with cloud cover remaining fairly high at times. Rainfall in these areas is expected to occur intermittently, contributing to unsettled marine conditions throughout the day and night.
Winds over the sea areas around the island are expected to be mainly north-easterly in direction. Wind speeds will generally range between 30 and 40 kilometres per hour in most surrounding waters. However, wind speeds can increase at times, reaching between 55 and 60 kilometres per hour in the sea areas off the coast extending from Beruwala to Kankasanthurai via Colombo and Puttalam. In addition, wind speeds may increase up to 50 kilometres per hour at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Kankasanthurai to Hambantota via Trincomalee and Batticaloa. These variations in wind speed are associated with the influence of the atmospheric disturbance and may result in changing marine conditions across different regions.
Due to these wind conditions, the sea areas off the coast extending from Beruwala to Kankasanthurai via Colombo and Puttalam are expected to be rough at times during the next 24 hours. The sea areas off the coast extending from Kankasanthurai to Hambantota via Trincomalee and Batticaloa are expected to be fairly rough at times, while the other sea areas around the island may remain moderate. Wave activity may vary depending on wind strength and direction, particularly in open sea areas.
Naval and fishing communities operating in the sea areas around Sri Lanka are requested to remain attentive to future weather forecasts and official bulletins issued by the Department of Meteorology, as marine weather conditions may change in response to the development of the atmospheric disturbance.
