Severe lightning alert issued for 18 districts: Met Dept.

An advisory accompanied by severe lightning was issued today for 18 districts by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Meteorology Department.

Accordingly, thundershowers accompanied by lightning would occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-Western, and Southern Provinces and in Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Jaffna, Killinochchi and Mannar districts during the evening or night.

Therefore, the public is cautioned to take necessary precautions to safeguard themselves against the squall and lightning, the department said.

The 18 districts are as follows: Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Kurunegala, Kandy, Matale, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya, Gampaha, Colombo, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Galle, Matara and Hambantota.

The Meteorology Department cautioned people against seeking shelter under trees but to stay indoors. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)