Media Center
Climate Bulletin for Sri Lanka (Week of 28 March – 04 April 2025)
Highlights
Rainfall Prediction: During the next week (March 26th–01st April) , moderate rainfall (25–50 mm) is predicted for the North-Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North-Central, Eastern, and Uva provinces, while light to moderate rainfall is predicted for the Western and Northern provinces.
Monitored Rainfall: During the last 8 days (18 Mar – 26 Mar), SL received an average of 4.0 mm/day of rainfall, while in the hydro catchments, the average rainfall was 4.7 mm/day. Highest daily rainfall was in Colombo on 21st March (64.5 mm).
Monitored Sea and Land Temperature: Average maximum land surface temperature was 32.2 ºC in the last week . The Northern plains were the warmest, followed by the Western and Southern plains. The sea surface temperature around Sri Lanka ranged between 0.25°C and 1.5°C above average from March 18 to March 24, 2025.
Interpretation
Monitoring
Rainfall: Average Rainfall in the Met Stations for the previous week of (20 Mar – 26 Mar) = 4.0 mm/day. Maximum Daily Rainfall: 64.5 mm & Minimum Daily Rainfall: 0.0 mm.
Wind: Easterly winds prevailed in the sea area and around the island last week.
Temperatures: Warmer temperatures were recorded in the Northern, Western, and North-Western provinces, while it remained normal in other provinces of Sri Lanka.
Rainfall: During the next week (March 26th–01st April) , moderate rainfall (25–50 mm) is predicted for the North-Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North-Central, Eastern, and Uva provinces, while light to moderate rainfall is predicted for the Western and Northern provinces.
Temperatures: The temperature will remain above normal in some parts of the Northern, North-Western, Western, and North-Central Provinces from March 27 to April 4, while it will remain normal in other parts of Sri Lanka during this period.
Teleconnections: The MJO will slightly enhance rainfall from March 25 to 09 April.
Seasonal Precipitation: The precipitation forecast for the April-May-June, 2025 season shows a 90% or more tendency toward normal precipitation for the Northern half of the country, while it shows a 90% or more tendency toward 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 |
