Tropical storm One strikes Sri Lanka

Monday, 6 January 2014 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Tropical storm One struck Sri Lanka at about 06:00 GMT yesterday. Data supplied by the US Navy and Air Force Joint Typhoon Warning Centre suggests that the point of landfall was near 9.3 N, 81.8 E. One brought one-minute maximum sustained winds to the region of around 74 km/h (46 mph). Wind gusts in the area were considerably higher. Meanwhile two Australians were rescued from the Chalai sea in Mulaitivu after they along with their yacht were swept away by high wind.

Earlier on the Disaster Management Centre advised people living in coast up to 100 metres along the Jaffna to Mulaitivu to evacuate. The Department of Meteorology said that the deep depression was located about 150 km to the North-east of Trincomalee. It was expected to move over or very closer to the Jaffna peninsula today and as such very strong winds of about 100 kmph and very heavy rain (about 200mm) are expected over Northern Province and over northern sea areas. It also said there will be frequent showers in the Northern Province and over sea area off the coast extending from Mannar to Mullativu via Kankasanturai. The seas off the coast extending from Mannar to Mullativu via Kankasanturai will be very rough and dangerous.