Severe lightning advisory issued for several parts of Sri Lanka

The Department of Meteorology said showers or thunderstorms could affect much of Sri Lanka after 1 p.m. Some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces, as well as Kurunegala, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee and Mullaitivu districts, may receive over 75 mm of rain. It also forecast morning rain along coastal parts of the Western Province and in Galle District.

A separate severe-lightning alert was issued at 11.30 a.m. on the 19th and was reported to remain active until 1 a.m. on the 20th. It applies to the Central, Sabaragamuwa, North-central, Eastern, Uva and Southern provinces, plus Kurunegala, Jaffna, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts. The department warned that thunderstorms could bring intense lightning and brief, locally strong winds.

The department urged the public to take precautions against lightning. Its guidance included going inside, staying away from open ground, tea plantations and water, and avoiding wired phones, electrical devices connected to power and uncovered vehicles such as bicycles, tractors and boats during storms. It also advised caution around trees or electrical lines brought down by storms and said emergencies should be reported to local disaster-management officials.

Misty weather may occur before dawn in parts of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces.

Written automatically by AI from the outlets’ own reports, and not reviewed by an editor. It can be wrong — the original report is the authority.