Wet weather till end November

Dharme Sri Abeyrathne

COLOMBO: The prevailing heavy rains and occasional cyclonic winds will continue till the end of November, Deputy Director of the Meteorological Department S. Kariyawasam said yesterday.

He said the country was witnessing the usual inter-monsoon rains which began on October 13. Heavy showers accompanied by strong lightning and thunder will be experienced all over the island until the end of November.

According to Meteorological Department sources, the inter-monsoon rains generally start in the afternoon even though there is a possibility of morning showers in the Eastern, Northern, North-Central, Uva provinces and some parts of Hambantota District.

The public are warned to take precautions against heavy thunder and lightning during this period.

Meanwhile the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) of the Ministry of Housing and Construction warned about possible landslides and earthslips in slopes as a result of continuous heavy rain fall.

If rain prevails more than 70 millimetres per day, the NBRO mentioned that landslides can occur in the slopes of Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Kegalle, Kalutara (Kukulegala) and Hambantota districts.