Media Center
Climate Bulletin for Sri Lanka (Week of 14 Feb – 21 Feb 2025)
Highlights
Rainfall Prediction: During the next week (12 – 18 Feb), “light showers” (<12.5 mm) are predicted for the Eastern, Western, North-Western, Central, North-Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Northern provinces.
Monitored Rainfall: During the last 8 days (05 – 12 Feb), SL received an average of 0.1 mm/day of rainfall, while in the hydro catchments, the average rainfall was 0.9 mm/day. Highest daily rainfall was in Pottuvil on 10 Feb (20 mm).
Monitored Sea and Land Temperature: Average maximum land surface temperature was 31. °C in the last week with warmer anomalies from seasonal average of 1°C. The Southern plains were the warmest, followed by the Western and Northern plains. Sea surface temperature around Sri Lanka was 1°C above average
Interpretation
Monitoring
Rainfall: Average Rainfall in the Met Stations for the previous week of (05 – 12 Feb) = 0.1 mm/day Maximum Daily Rainfall: 36.75 mm & Minimum Daily Rainfall: 5.4 mm.
Wind: Easterly winds prevailed in the sea area and around the island last week.
Temperatures: Temperatures: The temperature anomalies were near-neutral for Sri Lanka except some parts of Western, Southern and Sabaragamuwa Provinces.
Prediction
Rainfall: During the next week (12 – 18 Feb), “light showers” (<12.5 mm) are predicted for the Eastern, Western, North-Western, Central, North-Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Northern provinces.
Temperatures: The temperature will remain normal for the SL during 13th – 19th February.
Teleconnections: MJO will moderately suppress the rainfall during 11th – 15th February, slightly suppress, the rainfall during 16th – 20th, and slightly enhance the rainfall during 21st-25th February.
Seasonal Precipitation: The precipitation forecast for the February-March-April 2025 season shows an 80% or more tendency toward above-normal precipitation for the Northern half of the country, while it shows a 30% 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 |
