Met Dept. forecasts heavy rain, gusty winds

Wednesday, 7 January 2026 05:36 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Department of Meteorology yesterday said a developing low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal to the southeast of Sri Lanka is expected to intensify into a depression within the next 24 hours and track west-northwest towards the eastern seaboard.

As the system strengthens, rainfall across much of the island is forecast to increase from 8 January, particularly in the Northern, North Central, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces.

The department said intermittent showers are likely in the Eastern, Central, Uva, North Central and Northern provinces, with heavy falls of around 100 mm possible in parts of Uva province and in the Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa and Ampara districts.

It expects rain today (7) in Uva province and in the Batticaloa, Ampara, Polonnaruwa and Matale districts, with some areas receiving more than 50 mm. Several spells of showers are also forecast for the Northern Province and the Anuradhapura and Trincomalee districts, while showers or thundershowers may develop in other parts of the country after 1.00 p.m.

The Department of Meteorology also warned of strong winds, with speeds reaching up to 50 kmph at times over the eastern slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North Central, North Western and Eastern provinces, and in the Hambantota, Gampaha, Colombo and Monaragala districts.