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Met Dept in cloud nine; Doppler radar ready by next year
View(s):Pix and text by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe
Athula Karunanayake
The Japan-funded project to instal a Doppler radar system in Puttalam is progressing rapidly.
Authorities expect the hi-tech system to be operational by 2027.
Meteorological Department officials explained that the radar will cover a 450-kilometre radius and provide detailed information on weather patterns within that range. They noted that the system will allow forecasts of rainfall intensity up to two hours in advance.
The Doppler radar in Puttalam is expected to cover nearly half of Sri Lanka. If another system were installed in the southern sea region, the department could deliver highly accurate forecasts for the entire country, the officials said.
Doppler radar technology is widely used worldwide because of its accuracy in predicting weather conditions.
Meteorology Department Director General Athula Karunanayake described the installation as a landmark achievement for Sri Lanka’s meteorological sector. He emphasised that the system would enable the department to issue early warnings to the public about potential weather disasters.
“At present, we measure rainfall with gauges and release the data after the rain,” he said. “But since the Doppler system provides accurate data before rainfall begins, we will be able to issue timely warnings and minimise the impact of disasters.”
He added that while the department currently monitors forecasts from neighbouring countries, the new radar will allow Sri Lanka to make more reliable predictions independently.
Construction in progress to instal the system that will allow forecasts of rainfall intensity up to two hours in advance
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