Rainfall above 100 mm forecast in several areas

The Department of Meteorology forecast showers or thundershowers across many parts of Sri Lanka on Saturday, October 17. Newswire said most areas could see rain after 1 p.m.; the forecast was issued at 5:30 a.m. Morning showers were also possible in some coastal locations, including parts of the Western Province and the Galle, Puttalam, Mannar and Jaffna districts, according to Newswire.

Forecasts differed on the areas and rainfall thresholds. The Daily Mirror reported that totals above 100 mm were possible in parts of the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Matara, Galle and Puttalam districts. Rupavahini News listed possible totals above 100 mm in parts of the Northern, Western and North-Western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee districts. Newswire forecast more than 75 mm in parts of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North Central provinces, and in Trincomalee and Mullaitivu districts. Newsfirst also cited possible totals above 75 mm in parts of Sabaragamuwa, Central and North Central provinces and Trincomalee and Kurunegala districts.

The National Building Research Organisation had issued landslide-risk warnings for eight districts, Lankadeepa and Newsfirst reported. Their reports did not provide the districts’ names or further details about the warning.

The Meteorology Department advised people to take precautions against lightning and temporary strong winds that can accompany thunderstorms, according to Rupavahini News and Newswire. Early-morning mist was also forecast in parts of several provinces: Newswire listed Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva, while Rupavahini News named Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva.