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Heavy rains to cease, but strong winds to persist
The heavy showers and winds currently affecting the South West of the island, will dwindle into occasional showers next week as the monsoon weakens but afternoon thundershowers are expected in the Uva and Eastern Province, the Met. Department said.
The current strong winds of up to 70kph will persist and will be experienced next week along the western slopes of the central hill areas such as Kegalle, Ratnapura and Nuwara Eiya, said the department’s Weather Forecast Director, S.R Jayasekera.
“Sea areas off the coast from Puttalam to Trincomalee via Jaffna and off the coast from Hambantota to Pottuvil will be fairly rough with wind speeds of maximum up to 60kph,” he said. On Monday (July 22) 115mm of rain fell in Padukka, and on Tuesday heavy rains were experienced in Colombo, causing vehicle damage in De Saram Place, the National Hospital and other areas from trees blowndown over by the strong winds.
Met. Department statistics show the rainfall in several areas was higher than the average. The Disaster Management Centre said the severe weather caused damage to the homes of 108 families in the Maharagama, Kolonnawa and in Thimbirigasyaya areas, where one person was killed. Nuwara Eliya, Kotmale and Dehiowita were also affected by the bad weather.
The spill gates of the Upper Kotmale, Laxapana, Canyon and Moussakele reservoirs were opened on Tuesday to let out the excess waters.
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