MET DEPT. PREDICTS RAINY WEATHER

Thundershowers are expected during the afternoons of the next 36 hours in the Eastern, Uva, Northern and North-central provinces while most parts of the skies in the island would be cloudy, the Meteorology Department said yesterday.

According to the Met department rainfall figures amounting to 57.6 mm, 17.6 mm, 13.7 mm had been reported in Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ratnapura districts respectively while the highest rainfall of 45.5 mm was reported from Norton, Hatton during the 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. yesterday.

The weather forecast report issued yesterday afternoon said occasional showers would be experienced in the Central province and the Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kalutara, Galle and Matara districts.

It also said several spells of showers would occur in the North-western and Northern provinces and in the Colombo and Gampaha districts while showers or thundershowers will occur elsewhere after 2.00 p.m.

Accordingly it said fairly heavy rain fall above 75 mm could be expected at some places in the Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Badulla, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts while fairly strong winds about 40-50 kmph could be expected in the Hambanthota district.

The Met department advised the public to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity and warned of temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers.