Media Center
Climate Bulletin for Sri Lanka (Week of 31 Jan – 7 Feb 2025)
Highlights
Rainfall Prediction: During the next week (29 Jan – 04 Feb), “light to moderate showers” (12.5 – 25 mm) are predicted for the Eastern Province, while “light showers” are predicted for the Western, North-Western, Central, North-Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Northern provinces.
Monitored Rainfall: During the last 8 days (22 Jan-29 Jan), SL received an average of 5.2 mm/day of rainfall, while in the hydro catchments, the average rainfall was 74.1 mm/day. Highest daily rainfall was in Nuwara Eliya on 29 Jan (93.5 mm).
Monitored Sea and Land Temperature: Average maximum land surface temperature was 28.0ºC in the last week with warmer anomalies from seasonal average of 1 ºC. The Southern plains were the warmest, followed by the Western and Northern plains. Sea surface temperature around Sri Lanka was 1℃ above average from 21st Jan – 27th Jan 2025

Interpretation
Monitoring
Rainfall: In the Met Stations for the previous week of (23 Jan – 29 Jan) = 5.2 mm/day Maximum Daily Rainfall: 93.5 mm & Minimum Daily Rainfall: 0.0 mm
Wind: Easterly 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 (29 Jan – 04 Feb), “light to moderate showers” (12.5 – 25 mm) are predicted for the Eastern Province, while “light showers” are predicted for the Western, North-Western, Central, North-Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Northern provinces.
Temperatures: The temperature will remain normal for the SL during 30th January – 07th February.
Teleconnections: MJO will slightly enhance the rainfall during 28 January – 01 February, slightly suppress the rainfall during 02-06 February and significantly suppress the rainfall during 07 – 11 February.
Seasonal Precipitation: The precipitation forecast for the February-March-April, 2025 season shows a 70% 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 |