Media Center
Climate Bulletin for Sri Lanka (Week of 05 April – 12 April 2024)
Highlights
Rainfall Prediction: High likelihood of light to moderate rainfall (25mm) is predicted for the Western province; less rainfall (≤ 15mm) is predicted for the NorthWest, Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces and Dry conditions are predicted for Northern and Eastern provinces during 3 – 9 April.
Monitored Rainfall: On average, 2/3 of the expected rainfall was received over the country during 4 Mar – 2 April. Average rainfall for SL was 3.6mm and for the hydro- catchment areas was 4.1mm.
Monitored and Predicted Wind: Winds at 850mb (1.5 km) were easterly from 25 – 31 Mar reaching up to 4 m/s. Winds at 850mb (1.5 km) are predicted south easterly from 4 – 10 Apr reaching up to 2m/s.
Monitored Sea and Land Temperature: Average land surface temperature was 33°C in the last week and warmer anomalies of +1-3°C were higher in the Western slopes and coast compared to the Eastern and Northern regions. Sea surface temperature around Sri Lanka was 0.5 – 1.5°C above normal.
Interpretation
Monitoring
Rainfall: During the last two weeks, there had been very heavy rainfall over the following area:
Makandura.
Daily Average Rainfall in the Met stations for previous week of (27th March – 4th April) = 3.6 mm
Maximum Daily Rainfall: 121.7 mm & Minimum Daily Rainfall: 0.0 mm.
Wind: Easterly winds prevailed in the sea area and around the island last week.
Temperatures: The temperature anomalies were above normal forsome parts of the North Western,Sabaragamuwa, Western, Central, and Eastern provinces of the country, driven by the warm SST’s.
Prediction
Rainfall: During the next week (3rd April – 9th April), moderate rainfall (25mm) is predicted for the Western province and less rainfall (≤ 15mm) is predicted for the rest.
Temperatures: The temperature will remain above normal for some parts of the Northern, North Central, Eastern, North Western, and Uva provinces during 4th- 10th April.
Teleconnections: MJO shall slightly enhance the rainfall during 3rd – 12th April, and near neutral the rainfall during 13th – 17th April for Sri Lanka.
Seasonal Precipitation: The precipitation forecast for the April-May-June, 2024 season shows a 40 – 50% tendency toward above normal precipitation for the country.
Terminology for Rainfall Ranges
| Rainfall | |
| 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 |
