Severe lightning; red alert issued for 20 districts

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama

COLOMBO (Daily Mirror)- A red alert on thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning has been issued for 20 districts, the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Meteorology Department said today.

Accordingly, thundershowers accompanied by lightning are likely to occur in the Western, Central, Sabaragamuwa, North-Central, North-Western, Uva and Southern Provinces and in the Mullaitivu and Mannar districts during the evening or night.

Heavy showers of above 100 mm can be expected in the Western, Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts.

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

The 12 districts are as follows: Mullaitivu, Mannar, Vavuniya, Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kurunegala, Matale, Kandy, Gampaha, Kegalla, Nuwara-Eliya, Badulla, Colombo, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Moneragala, Galle, Matara and Hambantota.

The Meteorology Department cautions people not to seek shelter under trees but to stay indoors and requests them to avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms and also avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.

They are also advised to avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors, boats etc. and to beware of falling trees and power lines.