Media Center
Climate Bulletin for Sri Lanka (Week of 29 Nov – 6 Dec 2024)
Highlights
Rainfall Prediction: During the next week (27 Nov – 3 Dec), Heavy rainfall (100-150 mm) is predicted for the Northern, North Central, Eastern, and North Western provinces. Fairly Heavy rainfall (50-100 mm) is expected for the Sabaragamuwa, Central, Western, and Southern provinces. Moderate rainfall (25-50 mm) is predicted for the Uva province of Sri Lanka.
Monitored Rainfall: During the last 8 days, Sri Lanka received an average of 35 mm/day of rainfall, with the Eastern and Northern plains recording concentrations of 49 mm/day and 46 mm/day, respectively. The highest daily rainfall was recorded in Ampara on 25 Nov at (311 mm/day).
Monitored and Predicted Wind: From 19 – 25 Nov, winds at 850 mb (1.5 km) were easterly, reaching speeds of up to 10 m/s. From 28 Nov – 4 Dec, winds are predicted to shift to westerly, with speeds reaching up to 15 m/s.
Monitored Sea and Land Temperature: Average land surface temperature was 31.0ºC in the last week, with warmer anomalies ranging from 1-3ºC above the seasonal average. The Southern plains were the warmest, followed by the Western and Eastern plains. Sea surface temperature around Sri Lanka was 1ºC above average from 5 – 11 Nov 2024.
Interpretation
Monitoring
Rainfall:During the last two weeks, there has been Very Heavy rainfall over the following area: 311 mm/day (Ampara). Average Rainfall in the Met stations for the previous week of (20 – 26 Nov) = 35 mm/day Maximum Daily Rainfall: 253 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 except for some parts of Central, Southern, Sabaragamuwa, Western and Uva provinces driven by the warm SSTs
anomalies.
Prediction
Rainfall: During the next week (27 Nov – 3 Dec), Heavy rainfall (100-150 mm) is predicted for the Northern, North Central, Eastern and North Western provinces; Fairly Heavy rainfall (50-100 mm) for the Sabaragamuwa, Central, Western and Southern provinces; Moderate rainfall (25-50 mm) for the Uva province of SL.
Temperatures: The temperature will remain normal for the SL during 28 Nov. – 4 Dec.
Teleconnections: MJO shall be neutral the rainfall during 27 Nov-1 Dec and suppress the rainfall during 2-11 Dec for Sri Lanka
Seasonal Precipitation: The precipitation forecast for the December-January-February, 2024 season shows a 45% or more tendency toward above-normal precipitation for the the country.
Terminology for Rainfall Ranges
| Rainfall | |
| 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 |
