Monsoon season in mid May

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

"South-west monsoon season will begin in the middle of May and conintue till September. According to the previous weather patterns it begins on May 20. But there is no certain date for the beginning of the southwest monsoon," said Meteorology Department's Director S.H. Kariyawasam.

Normally the South-west monsoon sweeps across the Arabian Sea and because of this winds will have a high moisture content. These winds will be of a very high velocity and it may create rough seas and trigger gales, earthslips and floods, he said.

The Met Director was addressing a press briefing held at Meteorology Department yesterday.

He noted that this disaster situation will be experienced mainly during the early monsoon season. The usual rains will be experienced in all parts of the country during the August-September period. The total rain fall of this year will be 10 percent more than that of last year.

Agriculture in the north and east suffers badly during the South-west monsoon because the moisture bearing winds dry out as they descend over the central highlands, producing hot, and very strong winds. Thus June, July and August will almost be totally rainless throughout the dry zone.