Media Center
Climate Bulletin for Sri Lanka (Week of 21 Feb – 28 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 (12 – 19 Feb), SL received an average of 0.2 mm/day of rainfall, while in the hydro catchments, the average rainfall was 6.9 mm/day. Highest daily rainfall was in Ratnapura on 17 Feb (16.7 mm).
Monitored Sea and Land Temperature: Average maximum land surface temperature was 31.6°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 (13 – 19 Feb) = 0.2 mm/day Maximum Daily Rainfall: 16.7 mm & Minimum Daily Rainfall: 0.0 mm.
Wind: Northeasterly winds prevailed in the sea area and around the island last week.
Temperatures: The temperature anomalies were near-neutral for Sri Lanka.
Prediction
Rainfall: During the next week (19 – 25 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 above normal for some part of the Nort-Western, Western, Northern Provinces and Remain Normal for other parts of SL during 20th – 28th February.
Teleconnections: MJO will slightly suppress the rainfall during 18th February – 04th March and near neutral the rainfall during 05th – 09th March.
Seasonal Precipitation: The precipitation forecast for the March-April-May, 2025 season shows an 80% or more tendency toward above-normal precipitation for the Northern half of the country, while it shows a 20% 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 |
