Heavy showers expected; advisory issued for severe lightening

The Department of Meteorology has issued an ‘Amber’ level advisory for heavy rainfall in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and Galle and Matara districts.

The advisory, which is valid for the next 12 hours ending at 01.30 p.m. tomorrow (13), warns that showers or thundershowers will occur at most places on the island during the evening or night and heavy showers above 100mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Meanwhile, the department has also issued an advisory for severe lightening, effective until 11.30 p.m. on Monday (12).

The advisory said that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura, Galle and Matara districts during the evening or night.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. Thus, general public are kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

The general public is further requested to seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees, avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms, avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms and also avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors, boats etc. and to beware of fallen trees and power lines.

For emergency assistance, the public is requested to contact local disaster management authorities.