Sri Lanka sucked into El Nino

Disna Mudalige

Sri Lanka is gradually heading towards El Nino weather patterns, Meteorology Department meteorologist-in-charge D A Jayasingharachchi said yesterday.

El Nino refers to a warming of the surface water of the eastern and central Pacific ocean occurring every few years, which disrupts the weather patterns of the region.

He said a change of wind pattern causing low rainfall is the result of an El Nino. Jayasingharachchi said the drought in the dry zone is not due to El Nino, but it might intensify if Sri Lanka is centrally focused on El Nino in the coming months. He said it is too early to predict how it would develop and affect the country. Jayasingharachchi said what is experienced in Sri Lanka is a neutral condition which does not spring from either El Nino or La Nina.

Asked about the rough winds some what similar to tornadoes occasionally being experienced in the Western and Southern provinces, he said a depression developed in the Pacific Ocean has contributed to high speed winds from the South Western direction.

Jayasingharachchi said the South Westerly strong winds could be experienced even today.