South West monsoon expected to bring cooler weather

Disna MUDALIGE

The Meteorology Department yesterday said that the warm weather conditions prevailing over the island would recede with the setting in of the South West monsoon by May end . Meteorology Department Director General S H Kariyawasam addressing a press conference at the Department auditorium yesterday, said heavy showers are expected in the South Western part of the island, including the Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts with the onset of the monsoon.

He requested the public to be alert on landslides, rock falls and possible floods due to heavy showers and fairly strong winds during the monsoon. He observed that even though a heavy rain fall was recorded in the South Western part of the island at the end of April due to the disturbance in the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone, the rains decreased from May 1 due to the dry winds over the island.

He noted that the country has placed high expectations on the rains from the South West Monsoon, since rain fall in many parts of the island except Galle and Colombo is below the average level.

He noted that due to the warm winds coming from the direction of sea, presently there is warm and humid weather experienced in many parts of the country. He predicted that this situation would abate with the expected rains by May 20-30. Senior Met Department officials also participated.