SL Weather Likely to be volatile: Met Department

Dry weather will prevail in most parts of the island over the coming days

By Yohan Perera

Sri Lanka’s weather conditions are expected to fluctuate, with rainfall likely to increase toward the end of the month despite a recent decline, a senior official from the Department of Meteorology said yesterday.

“Although rainfall has declined over the past few days, it cannot be described as a dry spell,” Department of Meteorology Director Athula Karunanayake told the Daily Mirror. He said an enhancement of rainfall could be expected between January 23 and January 26, 2026, while moderate rains are also likely toward the end of the month, indicating variable weather patterns.  

According to the department’s official forecast, dry weather will prevail in most parts of the island over the coming days. Ground frost is expected in the Nuwara Eliya District, while misty conditions may occur during the early morning hours in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North Western, North Central and Uva provinces, as well as in the Galle, Matara and Ampara districts.   

As of yesterday afternoon, the highest rainfall recorded was 0.5 mm in Sirikaduewa in the Galle District. No rainfall was reported in most other parts of the country, including major hydro catchment areas. Meanwhile, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) said that 8,294 people from 2,706 families affected by Cyclone Ditwah are still sheltering in 113 safety centers across the country.