The Department of Meteorology has warned that a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, southeast of Sri Lanka, is likely to intensify into a depression and move west-northwest toward the island’s eastern coast.
As a result, rainfall is expected to increase from tomorrow, January 8, particularly across the Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Uva, and Central provinces.
The Meteorology Department said heavy rainfall exceeding 100 mm could occur in parts of the Uva Province and in the districts of Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa, and Ampara.
Strong winds of up to 50 km/h are also likely over the eastern slopes of the central hills, as well as in the Northern, North-Central, North-Western, and Eastern provinces, and the districts of Hambantota, Gampaha, Colombo, and Monaragala.
Scattered showers are expected in the Uva Province and in Batticaloa, Ampara, Polonnaruwa, and Matale districts.
The Department of Meteorology has urged fishing and naval communities, along with the general public, to remain alert and closely follow weather forecasts and official advisories.
Meanwhile, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued Level 3 Red Landslide Warnings for the Ududumbara, Nildandahinna, and Walapane Divisional Secretariat divisions, valid until 12.00 noon today.
Level 1 and Level 2 landslide warnings have also been issued for several Divisional Secretariat divisions in the Badulla, Kandy, Matale, Monaragala, and Nuwara Eliya districts.
In addition, the water level of the Mahaweli River at Manampitiya has remained at alert level as of yesterday afternoon.
