Cyclonic storm developing over Bay of Bengal

By Yohan Perera  

Cyclonic storm developing over Bay of Bengal is to bring more than 75mm of rain to six provinces namely Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, North, North Central and North Western provinces in the coming days, the Department of Meteorology said yesterday.   

It is also expected to bring in strong and gushing winds in and around the country during the coming days.   

“The depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal lay centred at 1730 hrs on October 25 over the same region, near latitude 10.9°N and longitude 88.1°E, about 800 km north-east of Trincomalee. It is likely to move nearly west- northwestwards, intensify into a deep depression by the 26th, into a cyclonic storm by 27th and into a severe cyclonic storm over southwest and adjoining west central Bay of Bengal by 28th morning. Thereafter, it is likely to move northwestwards towards Andhra Pradesh coast, the department said.   

Naval and fishing communities were warned not to venture to the shallow sea areas off the coast extending from Kankesanthurai to Batticaloa via Trincomalee, until further notice. Naval and fishing communities, engaging in activities over the shallow sea areas off the coast extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota were requested to be vigilant in this regard.   

Meanwhile four deaths have occurred due to inclement weather conditions which has affected 18 districts including Kurunegala, Galle, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Kandy, Puttalam, Colombo, Nuwara Eliya, Vavuniya, Moneragala, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Hambantota, Gampaha, Jaffna, Trincomalee and Batticaloa. Some 29,414 people belonging to 7395 families were affected.   

Flood gates of some reservoirs including Rajangana, Angamuwa, Kalawewa, Deduru Oya were opened. Water level of Kalu Ganga was rising by afternoon. National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has issued landslide warning to Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura districts.