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Days of downpours, winds ahead for several provinces
View(s):Winds exceeding 70 miles per hour are expected to blow into the provinces of Central, North Central, Uva, and Sabaragamuwa.
Forecasting director Anusha Warnasooriya, said coastal areas also would be hit by strong winds.
She expects average rainfall during the southwest monsoon.
With strong winds and showers also comes the danger of landslides.
The National Building Research Organization said that the landslide warning was issued on May 30, but if heavy rains continue, the alert will have be reissued.
“If rains continue in Ratnapura and Eheliyagoda areas, landslide warnings will have to be issued,’’ said NBRO senior scientist, Dr Wasantha Senadeera.
The recent adverse weather badly affected 12,000 acres of agricultural land.
According to Namal Karunaratne, the head of the National Organization of the All-island Farmers Federation, said farmers in Kurunegala, Matale, Moneragala, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Puttalam and Gampaha have suffered from the destruction.
“Most of the vegetables were destroyed in the rains. This time, just as much as the consumers felt the effect of higher prices of vegetables, the farmers are also in a bad situation,’’ he said.
According to Mr Karunaratne farmers are affected by the two extreme weather conditions every year and the Government has to find long-term solutions.
“Cold storage is always an option to store the excess vegetables during such a calamity and the country must adopt cultivation plans to stabilise the agricultural industry,’’ he said.
The director of Irrigation, Water Management and Training. W B Palugaswewa said the monsoon is concentrated on the southwestern areas.
But there is not enough rain in the North-Central, North-Western and Eastern provinces where irrigated agriculture is widespread.
“The recent rainfall increased the reservoir capacity from 40% to 49%. However, in two to three weeks, the capacity dropped to 48%,’’ he said.
The Irrigation Department has issued water for cultivation in the three provinces.
Mr Palugaswewa said that the monsoon will not completely fill up the reservoirs because rainfall has been below normal.
“There will be a moderate increase in reservoir capacity with the monsoonal rains,’’ he said.