Media Center
Climate Bulletin for Sri Lanka (Week of 02 – 09 June 2023)
Highlights
Rainfall Prediction: Fairly heavy rainfall is predicted for the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North Western, and Central provinces, and less rainfall is predicted for the rest of the country during 1 – 7 May.
Monitored Rainfall: During the last week, the average daily rainfall over Sri Lanka was 2.4 mm and hydro catchment areas received 4.0 mm.
Monitored and Predicted Wind: From 23 – 29 May, up to 6 m/s of westerly winds were at 850 mb (1.5 km). During 2 – 8 June, up to 15 m/s of southwesterly winds are expected at 850 mb (1.5 km).
Monitored Sea and Land Temperature: The sea surface temperature around Sri Lanka was 0.5 – 1.5°C above normal. The average maximum land temperature ranged from 32- 33°C and average minimum ranged from 24 – 25°C with a drop in the hills.
Interpretation
Monitoring
Rainfall: During the last two weeks, there had been very heavy rainfall over Monaragala.
Daily Average Rainfall in the Met stations for the previous week of (24th May – 31st May) = 2.4 mm
Maximum Daily Rainfall: 103.5 mm & Minimum Daily Rainfall: 0.0 mm.
Wind: Westerly winds prevailed in the sea area and around the island last week.
Temperatures: The temperature anomalies were above normal for some parts of the Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces and near normal for the rest of the country driven by the warm SST’s.
Prediction
Rainfall: During the next week (1st June – 7th June), fairly heavy rainfall (≥ 55 mm) is predicted for the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North Western, and Central provinces, and less rainfall is
predicted for the rest of the country.
Temperatures: The temperature will remain above normal for some parts of the Northern, Eastern, North Central, Uva, Southern, and Central provinces from 2nd June – 8th June.
Teleconnections: A transition from ENSO-neutral conditions in the next couple of months, with a greater than 90% chance of El Niño persisting into the Northern Hemisphere winter.
MJO shall slightly suppress the rainfall during 1st – 5th June, near normal rainfall from 6th – 10th June, and slightly increase the rainfall from 11th – 15th June for Sri Lanka.
Seasonal Precipitation: The precipitation forecast for the June-July-August, 2023 season shows above-normal precipitation for the country.
Terminology for Rainfall Ranges
| Rainfall (During 24 hours of the period) | |
| Light Showers | Less than 12.5 mm |
| Light to Moderate | Between 12.5 mm and 25 mm |
| Moderate | Between 25 mm and 50 mm |
| Fairly Heavy | Between 50 mm and 100 mm |
| Heavy | Between 100 mm and 150 mm |
| Very Heavy | More than 150 mm |
