A few showers are expected across parts of the country during the next 36 hours, while strong winds and rough seas are forecast in several coastal areas, the Department of Meteorology stated yesterday (5).

Showers are expected in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western Provinces, as well as the Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts.

Strong winds of 40-50 kilometres per hour (kmph) are likely at times over the western slopes of the Central Hills and in the Northern, North Central and North-Western Provinces, together with the Ratnapura, Hambantota and Trincomalee districts.

At sea, south-westerly winds of 30-40 kmph are expected. Wind speeds could increase to 55-65 kmph in the sea areas from Kankasanthurai to Puttalam via Mannar and from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota. Elsewhere around the island, winds may strengthen up to 50 kmph at times.

The sea off the coasts stretching from Kankasanthurai to Puttalam via Mannar and from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota will be very rough at times, while other sea areas are expected to be fairly rough.

Wave heights of between 2 and 2.5 metres are also expected in the sea areas extending from Chilaw to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota.

The Department advised fishing and naval communities to exercise caution due to the prevailing sea conditions.