Nawalapitiya recorded the highest rainfall in Sri Lanka over the past 24 hours, with 210 millimetres of rain recorded up to 6:00 p.m. today (20), as heavy showers continued to affect several areas of the central highlands, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).
Heavy rains were recorded in the Nawalapitiya area of the Kandy District, with showers also reported in the Pasbage Korale Divisional Secretariat Division.
The latest rainfall measurements indicate that several other locations in the central highlands also experienced substantial rainfall. Hunugal Oya and Watawala recorded 185 millimetres each, while Norton recorded 163.6 millimetres and Ginigathhena 158.6 millimetres.
Meanwhile, owing to heavy rains in cachment areas, authorities have opened two spill gates of the Laxapana Reservoir in the Nuwara Eliya District by 12 feet each.
The Department of Meteorology has meanwhile reported the formation of a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, northeast of Sri Lanka, in the vicinity of the Andaman region.
Although the system is not expected to have a direct impact on Sri Lanka, the Met. Department said prevailing wind conditions associated with the system are likely to contribute to continued rainfall over the southwestern parts of the island.
Showers or thundershowers are expected at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western provinces, as well as in the Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts.
The Met. Department has warned that rainfall exceeding 100mm could occur at some locations in these areas.
Several spells of showers are also expected in the North-Central Province and the Mannar District, while showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in the Uva Province and in the Batticaloa and Ampara districts after 2.00 p.m.
Meanwhile, fairly strong winds of between 30 and 40 kilometres per hour may occur at times over the western slopes of the Central Hills, the North-Central and North-Western provinces and in the Trincomalee, Hambantota and Matale districts.
The general public has been advised to take adequate precautions against possible damage caused by localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
