Govt. issues warnings on landslide, heavy rain and strong winds

• Level 1 landslide warning issued for Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura districts
• Several parts of the island to experience heavy rainfall exceeding 100mm
• Strong winds of 50-60kmph expected across the island
• Fishing and coastal communities warned of rough seas

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

Warnings of landslides, heavy rains and strong winds were issued yesterday by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Meteorology Department and the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), alerting people to the active south-west monsoon conditions currently affecting the country.

Level 1 landslide warnings were by the NBRO at 5.30 p.m. yesterday for the Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura districts due to rainfall during the previous 24 hours exceeding 75mm in these areas. The NBRO added that residents of these areas should be watchful of landslides, slope failures, rock slides, and land subsidence.

According to a warning for heavy rain issued at 4 p.m. yesterday, showery conditions are to be expected in the south-western and north-western parts of the island. Areas in the Western, Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces as well as the Galle and Matara districts may also experience heavy rainfall of 100mm to 150mm.

The forecast for today states that showers may occur in the Western, Central, Sabaragamuwa and North Western Provinces, and the Galle and Matara districts. Heavy rainfall exceeding 100mm is likely in areas of the Sabaragamuwa Province as well as the Galle, Matara, Kalutara and Nuwara Eliya districts.

Spells of showers may also occur in the North Central Province, and strong gusty winds of 50kmph to 60kmph can be expected across the island – particularly in the Northern, North Central and North Western Provinces, Trincomalee and Hambantota districts, and the western slopes of the central hills.

Fishing and coastal communities were also asked to be vigilant due to rough seas and strong winds.

According to an alert issued at 12 p.m. yesterday, wind speeds may increase to 60kmph to 70kmph in deep and shallow sea areas off the coasts, extending from Batticaloa to Colombo via Trincomalee, Kankesanthurai and Puttalam, as well as the sea areas extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota.

Deep and shallow sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Galle may experience fairly rough seas and wind speeds of 50kmph to 60kmph.

The warning added that there was a possibility of near-shore sea areas off the coast extending from Kalpitiya to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota experiencing surges due to the effect of swell waves of 2.5m to 3m in height.

Those carrying out fishing activities, especially in multi-day boats, in the central, northeast, and eastern areas of the Bay of Bengal have been asked to refrain from venturing to these areas until 22 September.