- Fishing and naval communities advised to avoid specified areas
- Showers and thundershowers forecast across several provinces
The Department of Meteorology warned fishing and naval communities against venturing into specified deep-sea areas as Cyclone Murasu is expected to intensify and bring strong winds and rough seas.
In a warning issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 3 p m yesterday (1), the Department stated the deep depression over the south-eastern Bay of Bengal had intensified into a cyclone named Murasu.
The system was located near latitude 12.1° North and longitude 85.3° East at 11.30 a.m. yesterday. It is expected to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal around this morning.
The cyclone is then expected to move northwestwards and cross the coast of Andhra Pradesh in India as a severe cyclonic storm between midnight today and the early hours of tomorrow (3).
Wind speeds in the affected sea areas could reach 70 to 80 kmph at times, accompanied by heavy thundershowers and very rough seas.
The warning covers deep-sea areas in the Bay of Bengal and the sea area extending from Mannar to Trincomalee via Kankesanthurai. Fishing and naval communities have been advised not to venture into the deep-sea area bounded by latitudes 10° North and 15° North and longitudes 80° East and 90° East until further notice. Those already operating in the affected areas have been advised to move to safer locations.
Meanwhile, the general weather forecast issued at 4 p m yesterday said showers or thundershowers were expected at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva and Southern provinces last night, with fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 50 mm possible in some locations.
Today (2), showers or thundershowers are expected at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, Uva, Eastern and North Central provinces, as well as in the Kurunegala and Mullaitivu districts, after 1 p m. Fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 50 mm is possible in some areas. Showers may also occur in the Western and Southern provinces during the morning.
Mainly fair weather is expected elsewhere on the island. Misty conditions are possible in some areas of the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in the Kurunegala and Anuradhapura districts during the early hours of the morning. The public has been advised to take precautions against localised strong winds and lightning during thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, according to the Disaster Management Centre, flooding, heavy rain, strong winds and landslides have affected 21,240 people from 5,768 families across 18 districts since 23 October. The affected districts are Matale, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Matara, Hambantota, Ampara, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Puttalam, Kurunegala, Jaffna, Mannar and Mullaitivu. Three deaths and three injuries have been reported, with three people listed as missing. Eight properties have been completely damaged and another 737 have sustained partial damage.