Media Center
Climate Bulletin for Sri Lanka (Week of 17 Feb – 24 Feb 2023)
Highlights
Rainfall Prediction: Moderately heavy rainfall is predicted for the Northern, Eastern, and North Central provinces from 16th Feb – 22nd Feb.
Monitored Rainfall: During the last week, the maximum daily rainfall over Sri Lanka was 49.9 mm in Rathnapura and hydro catchment areas received 0.0 mm. The highest average rainfall 1.3 mm/day was received to the western plains of the country.
Monitored Wind: From 7th-13th Feb, up to 6 m/s of northeasterly winds were experienced at 850mb level over the island.
Monitored Sea and Land Temperature: The sea surface temperature around Sri Lanka was below normal for the northern half of the island. The land surface temperature remained near normal.
Interpretation
Monitoring
Rainfall: During the last two weeks, there had been fairly heavy rainfall over Matara.
Daily Average Rainfall in the Met stations for the previous week of (8th February – 15th February) =0.4 mm
Rmax: 49.9 mm & Rmin: 0.0 mm.
Wind: Northeasterly winds prevailed in the sea area and around the island last week.
Temperatures: The temperature anomalies were below normal for the North Central province and some parts of the Eastern, North Western, Central, and Northern provinces, and above normal for some parts of the Sabaragamuwa province, driven by the warm SSTs.
Prediction
Rainfall: During the next week (16th February – 22nd February), moderately heavy rainfall (≥ 35 mm) is predicted for the Northern, Eastern, and North Central provinces, and less rainfall is expected for the rest of the country.
Temperatures: The temperature will remain above normal for some parts of the Western and Uva provinces from 17th – 23rd of February.
Teleconnections: ENSO-neutral conditions will begin within the next couple of months, and persist through the Northern Hemisphere spring and early summer.
MJO shall moderately suppress the rainfall from 16th – 20th February, and slightly suppress the rainfall from 21st February – 2nd March for Sri Lanka.
Seasonal Precipitation: The precipitation forecast for the March-April-May 2023 season shows a higher tendency of above-normal precipitation for the southern half of 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 |
