Issued at 2.00 p.m. on 05 January 2026
Weather conditions in the sea areas around Sri Lanka during the next 24 hours are expected to remain unsettled as a low-level atmospheric disturbance located in the Bay of Bengal to the southeast of the island is likely to intensify further, according to the Department of Meteorology. The developing system is expected to influence marine weather patterns across a wide range of sea areas surrounding the island, resulting in increased cloud cover, showery conditions, strengthening winds and changes in sea states in several regions. Such disturbances commonly affect the Bay of Bengal and frequently play a key role in shaping short-term marine weather conditions around 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 are likely to experience intermittent rainfall throughout the forecast period, with cloudy conditions prevailing at times. In addition, showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in the other sea areas around the island during the evening or night, contributing to unsettled weather conditions across surrounding waters during these hours.
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 sea areas. However, wind speeds may increase at times, reaching between 55 and 60 kilometres per hour in the sea areas off the coast extending from Beruwala to Trincomalee via Colombo, Puttalam and Kankasanthurai. In addition, wind speeds may increase up to 50 kilometres per hour at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Trincomalee to Hambantota via Batticaloa. These stronger winds are associated with the intensifying atmospheric disturbance and may lead to varying marine conditions during the forecast period.
As a result of these wind conditions, the sea areas off the coast extending from Beruwala to Trincomalee via Colombo, Puttalam and Kankasanthurai are expected to be rough at times during the next 24 hours. The sea areas off the coast extending from Trincomalee to Hambantota via Batticaloa are expected to be fairly rough at times, while the other sea areas around the island may remain moderate. Wave conditions 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 with the further development of the atmospheric disturbance.
