Media Center
Climate Bulletin for Sri Lanka (Week of 07 – 14 March 2025)
Highlights
Rainfall Prediction: During the next week (March 5 –11 ), moderate rainfall (25–50 mm) is predicted for the Eastern, Uva, Central, Southern, Sabaragamuwa, and North-Central provinces, while light to moderate rainfall is predicted for the Northern, Western, and North-Western provinces.
Monitored Rainfall: During the last 8 days (26 Feb – 04 Mar), SL received an average of 18.8mm/day of rainfall, while in the hydro catchments, the average rainfall
was 510.2mm/day. Highest daily rainfall was in Batticaloa on 28 Feb (160.7 mm).
Monitored Sea and Land Temperature: Average maximum land surface temperature was 30.5°C in the last week with warmer anomalies from seasonal average of 1°C. The Western plains were the warmest, followed by the Northern and Southern plains. Sea surface temperature around Sri Lanka was 1.0°C above average from 25 Feb – 03 Mar 2025
Interpretation
Monitoring
Rainfall: Average Rainfall in the Met Stations for the previous week of (27 Feb – 04 Mar) = 18.8 mm/day Maximum Daily Rainfall: 147.5 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 near-neutral for Sri Lanka except for Western and some part Sabaragamuwa provinces of the Sri Lanka.
Prediction
Rainfall: During the next week (March 5th–11th), moderate rainfall (25–50 mm) is predicted for the Eastern, Uva, Central, Southern, Sabaragamuwa, and North-Central provinces, while light to moderate rainfall is predicted for the Northern, Western, and North-Western provinces.
Temperatures: The temperature will remain above normal for some part of the North-Western, Western, Northern Provinces during 06 – 15 March and Remain Normal for other parts of SL during 05th – 15th March.
Teleconnections: The MJO will slightly enhance rainfall from March 4th to 8th, moderately enhance rainfall from March 9th to 13th, and significantly enhance rainfall from March 14th to 18th.
Seasonal Precipitation: The precipitation forecast for the March-April-May, 2025 season shows a 70% or more tendency toward above-normal precipitation for the Northern half of the country, while it shows a 60% or more tendency toward above-normal precipitation for the Southern half of the country.
Terminology for Rainfall Ranges
| Terminology | Rainfall (mm/week) |
| 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 |
