Media Center
Climate Bulletin for Sri Lanka (Week of 24 Mar – 31 Mar 2023)
Highlights
Rainfall Prediction: Moderate rainfall (35mm) is predicted for the Eastern, Southern, Sabaragamuwa, and Western provinces and less rainfall is expected for the rest of the country during the 23rd – 29th March.
Monitored Rainfall: During the last week, the average daily rainfall over Sri Lanka was 7.0 mm and hydro catchment areas received 10.0 mm.
Monitored Wind: From 14th – 20th Mar, up to 2 m/s of Easterly winds were experienced at 850 mb 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 very heavy rainfall over Galle.
Daily Average Rainfall in the Met stations for the previous week of (15th March – 22nd March) = 7.0 mm
Maximum Rainfall: 116.6 mm & Minimum Rainfall: 0.0 mm.
Wind: Easterly winds prevailed in the sea area and around the island last week.
Temperatures: The temperature anomalies were near normal for the whole country driven by the warm SSTs.
Prediction
Rainfall: During the next week (23rd March – 29th March), moderate rainfall (35 mm) is predicted for the Eastern, Southern, Western, and Sabaragamuwa provinces 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, Southern, and Uva provinces and below normal for some parts of the Central province during 24th March – 30th March.
Teleconnections: ENSO-neutral conditions are expected to continue through the Northern Hemisphere in spring and early summer of 2023.
MJO shall moderately enhance the rainfall from 23rd March – 1st April, and near neutral the rainfall from 2nd April – 6th April 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 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 |
