COLOMBO – The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology on Sunday (26) issued a strong winds, rough seas and high waves advisory for deep and shallow sea areas extending from Mannar to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambanthota, for the 24-hour period ending at 6:00 p.m. Monday (27).
Backed by an ‘amber’ alert, the advisory warned of rough to very rough seas and wind speeds increasing up to 60 to 70 kmph, in the sea areas extending from Mannar to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambanthota, and urged naval and fishing communities not to venture to sea. It also urged those who are currently positioned within the Mannar to Hambantota are to move to a safer location until further notice.
In an advisory issued at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, the Met Department also warned of showery weather in the southwestern parts of the country with gusty winds over the island for the 24 hours ending at 2:00 p.m. Monday.
It forecast heavy showers above 100mm could be expected at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-Western Provinces and in Galle and Matara districts. It also warned wind speed could up to 50-60 kmph at times over the island, particularly in the western slope of central hills, Northern, North-Central and North-Western, Southern and Western Provinces.
-ENCL