Media Center
Climate Bulletin for Sri Lanka (Week of 29 Apr – 06 May 2022)
Highlights
Rainfall Prediction: Up to 55 – 85 mm fairly heavy rainfall is expected in Sabaragamuwa, Western, Southern, Northern, North-Central, North Western & Central provinces during 29th April – 3rd May.
Monitored Rainfalls: During the last week, average daily rainfall over Sri Lanka was 4.1 mm and hydro catchment areas have received up to 6.3 mm on average.
Monitored Wind: From 18th – 24th April, up to 1 – 4m/s South-westerlies &variable winds were experienced over the island.
Monitored Temperature: Sea surface temperature was above 0.5°C to the north of Sri Lanka. Land temperatures remain around normal, unlike the sweltering heat in Indian sub-continent.
Interpretation
Monitoring
Rainfall: During the last two weeks, there had been heavy rainfall over the following area: Galle
Daily average rainfall in the Met stations for previous week of (19th- 26th April) = 4.1 mm
Rainfall max: 63.9 mm & Rainfall min: 0.0 mm.
The Hydro Catchment Areas recorded 6.3 mm of average rainfall for the last week
Rainfall max: 59 mm & Rainfall min: 0 mm.
Wind: South-westerly (and variable in direction) winds prevailed in the sea area surrounding the island last week.
Temperatures: The temperature anomalies were near neutral for the country, driven by the warm SST’s.
Prediction
Rainfall: During the next week (29th April- 3rd May) fairly heavy rainfall is predicted for the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Northern, North Central, North Western and Central provinces.
Temperature : The temperature remains slightly below normal in the central and Uva provinces and above normal in the northern province during 29th April – 6th May.
Teleconnections:
La Nina – The SST forecast indicates that La Niña is favored to continue into the Northern Hemisphere summer (June-August 2022).
MJO shall slightly enhance the rainfall during 29th April – 6th May and moderately enhance during 7th– 11th May.
Seasonal Precipitation:
The precipitation forecast for the May-June-July season shows below-normal precipitation for the island, but above-normal precipitation for the Northern province.
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 |
