Over 600,000 face water crisis due to heat wave : No major impact of rains

Colombo (News 1st): The Disaster Management Centre says that approximately 600,000 people in 20 districts are facing a severe water crisis, due to the prevailing heat wave. More than one hundred thousand people in the Vavuniya, Jaffna, Mannar, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts of the Northern province, are suffering due to the prevailing dry weather conditions. Locals of the Dankotuwa area in the Puttalam district and people from several areas in the Kegalle district face a similar situation. The Disaster Management Centre says that the Ratnapura and Kurunegala districts have also been adversely affected due to the dry weather conditions. Residents of several areas in the Matale and Kandy districts are also facing severe difficulties due to the prevailing dry weather. The heat wave is also affecting the Matara, Hambantota, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura districts. Meanwhile, the DMC said, the rainfall experienced in a few districts was not sufficient to mitigate the adverse impact caused by the dry weather conditions. During the 24 hour window ending at 8.30 am this morning, the highest rainfall of 107.1 millimetres was reported from the Elton area in Awisawella. Rainfall of 106.5 millimetres was reported from Katunayaka, while rainfall of more than 50 millimetres was reported from several other areas. The Meteorology Department said that the Anuradhapura, Badulla, Batticaloa, Colombo, Galle, Hambantota, Jaffna, Monaragala, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Ratnapura, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee districts, are currently experiencing scattered showers. Catchment areas which feed hydropower plants also experienced heavy showers yesterday. Several roads were inundated due to heavy rainfall of more than 100 millimetres in Hatton yesterday (April 17). News 1st correspondent in the area stated that the water levels in the Castlereigh, Mousakelle and upper Kotmale reservoirs, have increased. The Meteorology Department added that showers with a rainfall of more than 100 millimetres are expected in the Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, Uva, Western, North-Central and North-Western provinces. Following is a weather advisory for a few main cities,

• Anuradhapura - rain or thundershowers are expected after 2.00 pm
• Batticaloa - rain or thundershowers are expected after 2.00 pm
• Colombo - rain or thundershowers are expected after 2.00 pm
• Galle - rain or thundershowers are expected after 2.00 pm
• Jaffna - minor showers
• Kandy - rain or thundershowers are expected after 2.00 pm
• Nuwara Eliya - rain or thundershowers are expected after 2.00 pm
• Ratnapura - rain or thundershowers are expected after 2.00 pm
• Trincomalee - rain or thundershowers are expected after 2.00 pm
• Ratnapura - rain or thundershowers are expected after 2.00 pm

The Department of Meteorology issuing it's latest weather advisory has prompted the naval and fishing community to be vigilant of its activities owing to the possibility of heavy thundershowers and sudden increase of wind speeds up to 70-80 kmph in the sea areas extending from Mannar to Balapitiya.