Media Center
Climate Bulletin for Sri Lanka (Week of 17 Mar – 24 Mar 2023)
Highlights
Rainfall Prediction: Fairly heavy rainfall (55 mm) is predicted for the Eastern province, and less rainfall is expected for the rest of the country during the 16th – 22nd March.
Monitored Rainfall: During the last week, the average daily rainfall over Sri Lanka was 3.3 mm and hydro catchment areas received 5.5 mm. The highest average rainfall 5.4 mm/day was received to the Western plains.
Monitored Wind: From 7th- 13th Mar, up to 6 m/s of northeasterly winds were experienced at 850 mb level over the island. During 17th – 23rd of March easterly winds are expected for the country.
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 heavy rainfall over Galle.
Daily Average Rainfall in the Met stations for the previous week of (8th March – 15th March) = 3.3 mm
Maximum Rainfall: 63.6 mm & Minimum Rainfall: 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 some parts of the Northern Province and normal for the rest of the country driven by the warm SSTs.
Prediction
Rainfall: During the next week (16th March – 22nd March), fairly heavy rainfall (55 mm) is predicted for the Eastern province, and less rainfall is expected for the rest of the country.
Temperatures: The temperature will remain above normal for some parts of the Northern, North Western, North Central, and Uva provinces and below normal for some parts of the Central province from 17th March – 23rd March.
Teleconnections: ENSO-neutral conditions are expected to continue through the Northern Hemisphere in spring and early summer 2023.
MJO shall moderately enhance the rainfall from 16th March – 20th March and significantly enhance the rainfall from 21st March – 30th March for Sri Lanka.
Seasonal Precipitation: The precipitation forecast for the April-May-June 2023 season shows a higher tendency of below-normal precipitation for the country except for Northern Province.
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 |
