Media Center
Climate Bulletin for Sri Lanka (Week of 26 Aug – 02 Sept 2022)
Highlights
Rainfall Prediction: Heavy rainfall is predicted for Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces and less rainfall is expected for the rest of the country during 26th – 31st August.
Monitored Rainfalls: During the last week, the average daily rainfall over Sri Lanka was 1.9 mm and hydro catchment areas have received 6.8 mm on average.
Monitored Wind: From 16th- 22nd August, westerly to south-westerly of 10m/s winds were experienced at 850 mb level over the island. Up to 10m/s of south-westerlies expected for the next week.
Monitored Temperature: Sea surface temperature around Sri Lanka was above 0.5℃ to the North and South of Sri Lanka. Land surface temperature remained near normal.
Interpretation
Monitoring
Rainfall:
During the last two weeks, there had been fairly heavy rainfall over the following area: Nuwara Eliya
Daily Average Rainfall in the Met stations for previous week of (17th Aug – 24th Aug) = 1.9 mm
Rainfall maximum: 29.3 mm & Rainfall minimum: 0.0 mm.
Wind: Westerly to South-westerly winds prevailed in the sea area and around the island last week.
Temperatures: The temperature anomalies were above normal for the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces, driven by the warm SST’s.
Prediction
Rainfall: During the next week (26th – 31st August) heavy rainfall is predicted for Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces and fairly heavy rainfall is expected for the rest of the country.
Temperatures: The temperature will remain slightly above normal to the East and North of the island during 26th August – 1st September.
Teleconnections: La Niña – La Niña is favored to continue through 2022 with the odds for La Niña decreasing into the Northern Hemisphere late summer (July-September 2022) before increasing through the Northern Hemisphere fall and early winter 2022.
MJO shall slightly enhance the rainfall during 25th August – 8th September.
Seasonal Precipitation: The precipitation forecast for the September-October-November season shows a higher tendency for below-normal precipitation for the country.
Terminology for Rainfall Ranges
| Rainfall (During 24 hours of 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 |
