Heat index glows red at ‘extreme’ level
The Department of Meteorology says the heat index is expected to reach the “Extreme Caution” level in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North- Western provinces and in the Galle, Matara and Moneragala districts.
The heat index calculates the temperature felt by the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature.
The department’s Director-General, Athula Karunanayake, said heat levels would escalate from April 5 to April 15, causing increased rates of evaporation in reservoirs and other water bodies.
“As we are entering into the first inter- monsoon the wind speed is generally low, which also aggravates heat conditions because the higher the wind speed the more readily the surface cools,” he said.
Health officials warned of possible heat strokes. The Head of Nursing at the National Hospital, Pushpa Soysa, said heat strokes, if not properly attended to, would lead to death.
She said staying hydrated by drinking a lot of water was key during this period, as was avoiding long periods of exposure to the sun, especially from 11am to 3pm.
She added a caution about skin infections and advised the public to use ointments and proper clothing to protect the skin.
Authorities have shown concern over possible drought conditions if current weather conditions persist in coming months.
“The Ministry of Agriculture raised concerns over possible reduction in the paddy cultivation forecast for the Yala season which is about to commence later this month if the prevailing conditions don’t change by the end of March,” the ministry’s Director of Socio-Economic Planning Dr. R.M. Herath said.
He said the Yala harvest from a forecast 450,000 ha of paddy being cultivated this season had not taken into account any drought conditions.
“It is likely that these numbers will reduce if the weather doesn’t turn out to be favourable,” he said.
Additional Secretary ( Irrigation Development) at the Irrigation Department, Eng. W. B. Palugaswewa said the average rate of evaporation in reservoirs had increased to 7- 8mm a day, up from the average rate of 6mm a day. He said water needs for agriculture were not a concern at the moment as harvesting was in progress but problems could arise when cultivation began.
According to the Ministry of Power and Energy, daily demand for power is 47 megawatt hours and the average water capacity of the main six reservoirs was 58.5 per cent.
The ministry’s Director o f Development, Sulakshana Jayawardena, said water levels could drop further if heat conditions continued to be adverse and pointed out that last March the average reservoir capacity had dropped to about 20 per cent.
He said the current water level at the Castlereagh reservoir was 42.4 per cent; at Maussakelle, 45.5 per cent; Kotmale, 42.5 per cent; Victoria, 72.5 per cent; Randenigala, 76.2 per cent and Samanalawewa, 48.8 per cent.
The ministry has re c e ived Cabinet approval for 228 short- term megawatt generators to be set up to assist power supply.