• Heavy rains from Oct-Dec

The Meteorology Department forecast a drought from January of next year to April, while clarifying that the impending El Niño phenomenon will not necessarily result solely in dry conditions, but rather a combination of both drought and heavy rainfall.

Speaking to the media yesterday (6), Director General of the Department, Ajith Wijemannage said that given the fact the coming El Niño is predicted to be one of the worst of all time, the Department expects that it will reduce rainfall in January 2027, with a drought anticipated until April of the same year. 

He further mentioned that what the country is currently experiencing is the first stage, which is the weakened stage of an El Niño, and that if El Niño breaks out, it could last up to nine months. He predicted that the heat index could reach unbearable levels under the given scenario. He also warned that rainfall during the South West Monsoon could be reduced. 

He noted that during next month (in August), the country typically receives relatively low rainfall, and that this could decrease even further in the wake of El Niño. According to him, at the beginning of September, rain cannot be expected, but that towards the end of September, rainfall would occur. He further added that heavy rains can be expected in the months of October, November, and sometimes in December as well.