Southwest Monsoon Intensifies as Heavy Rain, Strong Winds and Landslide Warnings Continue

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Met Department says the prevailing rainy and windy conditions over the southwestern parts of the island are expected to intensify from today and continue for the next few days, due to the active southwest monsoon. 

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, and North-western provinces and Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts. Cloudy skies will prevail over these areas.

Heavy falls above 100 mm are likely at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya and Galle districts.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Ampara, Batticaloa, and Monaragala districts after 2.00 p.m. 

Strong winds of about (40-50) kmph can be expected at times over North-central, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Central and North-western provinces.

Meanwhile, the Mahaweli Authority says water levels in several major reservoirs are gradually declining.

Director General H.M.J.K. Herath stated that rainfall in the Kotmale catchment area has eased slightly compared to previous days. 

Despite the reduced rainfall, efforts are underway to maintain the Kotmale Reservoir's storage capacity between 90 and 95 percent.

He added that 100 cubic metres of water per second are currently being released from the Kotmale Reservoir for hydroelectric power generation, enabling the national grid to receive more than 200 megawatts of electricity at full generation capacity.

Meanwhile, water levels at the Victoria Reservoir have continued to rise due to the Polgolla diversion and inflows from the Kotmale and Gampola areas. As a result, the reservoir's storage capacity has now exceeded 50 percent.

The Irrigation Department also announced that the minor flood risk affecting low-lying areas along the Mahaweli River has subsided.

However, landslide warnings remain in effect for several Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the Kandy, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya, and Ratnapura districts.

According to the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), warnings remain in place for the following areas:

Kandy District: Ududumbara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Pasbage Korale, Delthota, Doluwa, Medadumbara, Panwila, and Udapalatha.
Kegalle District: Yatiyanthota, Bulathkohupitiya, Aranayake, Dehiowita, and Deraniyagala.
Nuwara Eliya District: Ambagamuwa, Norwood, Talawakelle, Kotmale East, Kotmale West, and Nuwara Eliya.
Ratnapura District: Stage 2 landslide warnings remain in effect for Opanayake, Imbulpe, and Ratnapura.

Meanwhile, Education Secretary of the Central Province H.M. Madhupani Piyasena said that schools in the Hatton region, which were closed due to adverse weather conditions, will reopen today.

She added that school principals have been authorized to temporarily close schools if necessary, subject to the approval of the respective Zonal Education Directors.