Strong winds, rough seas as depression forms in Bay of Bengal: Met Dept warns

Colombo, October 25. (Daily Mirror) - The Department of Meteorology has issued an amber advisory for strong winds, heavy showers, and rough seas affecting the Bay of Bengal and eastern coastal waters around Sri Lanka.

According to the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre, a low-pressure system over the southeast Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression and was located at 05:30 a.m. today (25 October), around 900 km northeast of Batticaloa.

The system is expected to move west-northwest and strengthen into a deep depression by October 26, eventually developing into a cyclonic storm over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 27. It is likely to later track towards the Andhra Pradesh coast within 48 hours.

The Met Department has cautioned naval and fishing communities not to venture into deep-sea areas bounded by latitudes 05N–15N and longitudes 80E–95E until further notice. Those already operating in these regions are advised to move to safer waters immediately.

Warnings have also been issued for shallow sea areas off the coast stretching from Kankasanthurai to Batticaloa via Trincomalee, and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota, urging heightened vigilance due to hazardous marine conditions.

Wind speeds in the affected areas may increase to 55–65 kmph, accompanied by heavy thundershowers, making sea conditions rough to very rough at times.