New Year’s Marine Forecast: Caution Advised for Southern and Eastern Coastal Waters
As the island welcomes the new year, the Department of Meteorology has issued a marine weather advisory effective from the morning of January 1, 2026, urging the naval and fishing communities to exercise vigilance in specific coastal belts. While the general atmospheric conditions remain seasonal, the forecast for the next 24 hours highlights potential risks for vessels operating in the Southern and Eastern waters due to fluctuating sea states and wind gusts.
According to the forecast, winds across the sea areas around the island will predominantly blow from a Northerly to North-easterly direction. While the average wind speeds are expected to hover between 30 and 40 kilometers per hour, meteorologists warn of intensified conditions in select zones. Specifically, wind speeds are predicted to increase up to 45 kilometers per hour at times in the sea areas extending from Beruwala to Matara via Galle, as well as from Batticaloa to Pottuvil. Consequently, these specific maritime zones are expected to appear fairly rough at times, requiring small vessels to take necessary precautions.
In terms of precipitation, the weather pattern remains active along several key shipping and fishing routes. Showers are forecast to occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Mannar to Colombo via Puttalam, and from Trincomalee to Hambantota via Batticaloa. The remaining sea areas around the island may also experience showers or thundershowers at a few places. The Department notes that while the general sea state around the island will be moderate, conditions can deteriorate rapidly during these thundershowers.
Authorities have emphasized that temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers, regardless of the general forecast. Fisheries and naval operations are advised to remain attentive to these sudden changes in weather, particularly when venturing into the deep sea areas off the Southern and Eastern coasts.
