Thundershowers forecast for late May

Thunderstorms are forecast f or t he We s t e r n and Southwestern parts during the day and evenings.

The De p a r t m e n t of Meteorology Department said also Sri Lanka will experience westerly winds accompanied by rains.

Director General Athula Karunanayake said the prevailing showers are due to the low- level atmospheric disturbance in the east of Sri Lanka.

He said the Southwest Monsoon is expected on or about May 25 and 26 and Sri Lanka will receive heavy rains of over 150mm and experience strong winds of 60-70 kilometres per hour.

In India, the scorching heat has triggered widespread drought.

The wind pattern has changed in Sri Lanka due to a disturbance in sea areas near the Indian and Bangladesh oceans.

Weak La-Nina conditions in the Pacific Ocean might influence the monsoon rains in Sri

Lanka as well.

All naval communities are being told to be vigilant and take precautions as the wind speed of the sea areas will increase on the eastern side of the Indian Ocean.

The Disaster Management Centre is preparing for likely natural disasters and held a joint briefing on Friday with the Department of Meteorology, National Building Research Organization, and Department of Irrigation and the Ministry of Health.

They said people at the national and regional levels will be advised about how to deal with natural disasters. Schools cannot be used as shelters because the GCE Ordinary Level examinations are to be held.

The Irrigation Department pointed out that about 71% of the reservoirs are full and the rainfall pattern is being monitored.

The Ministry of Health will continue a dengue control programme to reduce risks associated with the southwest monsoon.