Media Center
Climate Bulletin for Sri Lanka (Week of 6 – 13 December 2024)
Highlights
Rainfall Prediction: During the next week (4 – 10 Dec), fairly heavy rainfall (50-100 mm) is predicted for the Northern province, moderate rainfall (25-50 mm) for the Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, North Central, Western and Southern provinces, light to moderate rainfall (12.5-25 mm) for Central and Uva provinces of Sri Lanka.
Monitored Rainfall: During the next week (4 – 10 Dec), fairly heavy rainfall (50-100 mm) is predicted for the Northern province, moderate rainfall (25-50 mm) for the Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, North Central, Western and Southern provinces, light to moderate rainfall (12.5-25 mm) for Central and Uva provinces of Sri Lanka.
Monitored and Predicted Wind: From 19 – 25 Nov, winds at 850mb (~1.5km) were north-westerly, reaching up to 10 m/s. From 5 Dec – 11 Dec, winds are predicted to be east-north-easterly, reaching 8 m/s.
Monitored Sea and Land Temperature: Average land surface temperature was 30.0ºC in the last week with cooler anomalies from seasonal average of 1-3 ºC. Southern plains was warmest followed by Eastern and Western plains. Sea surface temperature around Sri Lanka was 1℃ above average from 20-27th Nov 2024.
Interpretation
Monitoring
Rainfall: During the last two weeks, there has been heavy rainfall over the following area: 150.3 mm/day (Elkaduwa-Matale). Average Rainfall in the Met stations for the previous week of (27 Nov- 04 Dec) = 7 mm/day Maximum Daily Rainfall: 100.1 mm & Minimum Daily Rainfall: 0.0 mm.
Wind: North-North-Westerly winds prevailed in the sea area and around the island last week.
Temperatures: The temperature anomalies were cooler for Sri Lanka except for Southern and some parts of Central, Sabaragamuwa, Western and Eastern provinces driven by the warm SSTs anomalies.
Prediction
Rainfall: During the next week (4 – 10 Dec), fairly heavy rainfall (50-100 mm) is predicted for the Northern province, moderate rainfall (25-50 mm) for the Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, North Central, Western and Southern provinces, light to moderate rainfall (12.5-25 mm) for Central
and Uva provinces of Sri Lanka.
Temperatures: The temperature will remain normal for the SL during 5 Dec. – 11 Dec.
Teleconnections: MJO shall be neutral the rainfall during 4-8 Dec and moderately suppress the rainfall during 9-18 Dec for Sri Lanka.
Seasonal Precipitation: The precipitation forecast for the December-January-February, 2024 season shows a 40% or more tendency toward above-normal precipitation for 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 |
