Media Center
Climate Bulletin for Sri Lanka (Week of 2 August – 9 August 2024)
Highlights
Rainfall Prediction: During 1 – 7 Aug, high likelihood of fairly heavy rainfall (50 – 100 mm) is predictedfor the Sabaragamuwa, Western, Central, Uva, Eastern, North Western and Southern provinces and moderate rainfall (25 – 50 mm) is predicted for the Northern and North Central provinces.
Monitored Rainfall: On average, 3.3 mm was received in SL and rainfall was concentrated in the Western plains (7 mm) and hills (7.4 mm) for last 8 days. On average, 12 mm was received in the hydro catchments in SL; Canyon (Nuwara Eliya District) received the highest rainfall (105 mm) for last 8 days. Highest daily rainfall was in Devitura Estate (Galle District) on 29 July (126 mm).
Monitored and Predicted Wind: From 24 Jul – 30 Jul, winds at 850mb (1.5km) were northwesterly, reaching up to 20 m/s. From 2 Aug – 8 Aug, winds are predicted to be northwesterly, reaching up to 5 m/s.
Monitored Sea and Land Temperature: Average land surface temperature was 31.5ºC in the last week with warmer anomalies from seasonal average of 1-3 ºC. Eastern plains was warmest followed by Northern and Southern plains. Sea surface temperature around Sri Lanka was 0.5 – 1.5ºC above average.
Interpretation
Monitoring
Rainfall: : During the last two weeks, there has been fairly heavy rainfall over the following area:
Devitura Estate (Galle District). Daily Average Rainfall in the Met stations for the previous week of (25 July – 31 July) = 3.3 mm Maximum Daily Rainfall: 97.4 mm & Minimum Daily Rainfall: 0.0 mm
Wind: North Westerly winds prevailed in the sea area and around the island last week.
Temperatures: The temperature anomalies were above normal for most parts and neutral for some parts of Northern, North Western and North Central Sri Lanka driven by the warm SSTs.
Prediction
Rainfall:During the next week (1 Aug – 7 Aug), fairly heavy rainfall (50 – 100 mm) is predicted for the Sabaragamuwa, Western, Central, Uva, Eastern, North Western and Southern provinces and moderate rainfall (25 – 50 mm) is predicted for the Northern and North Central provinces.
Temperatures: The temperature will remain above normal for the Northern, Eastern, North Central, and Uva provinces during 2-8 August
Teleconnections: MJO shall be moderately suppressed for the rainfall during 31 July-14 August for Sri Lanka
Seasonal Precipitation: The precipitation forecast for the August-September-October, 2024 season shows a 40% or more tendency toward 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 |
