The Meteorology Department today issued a “Red” alert notice warning urging people to be cautions of adverse the Cyclonic storm “AMPHAN ”.
According to the warning notice, The Cyclonic Storm “AMPHAN” (pronounced as UM-PUN) over the South east Bay of Bengal and neighborhood, has intensified into a Serve Cyclonic Storm and lay centered yesterday at 08.30 a.m, near latitude 11.4oN and longitude 86.0oE, about 610km North-east of Trincomalee. It is very likely to move North wards during next 24 hours and then re- curve north- northeastwards towards west Bengal coast during May 20.
Accordingly, The Meteorology Department said that this may cause the prevailing showery condition over the island and very heavy showers above 150 mm can be expected at particularly in Southern, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-Western and there is a possibility for sudden increase of wind speed up to (50-60) kmph at times over the island.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity during thundershowers.
The Metorology Department further said that Wind speed can increase up to 60-70 kmph at times in the sea area extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Galle and Hambantota.
The sea areas around the island can be fairly rough and the sea area extending from Puttalam Pottuvil to via Galle and Hambantota will be rough to very rough at times.
Therefore, Naval and Fishing community are advised not to venture into the swallow and deep sea areas around the until further notice and requested to be attentive regarding future forecasts issued with regard to the cyclonic situation arisen in the aforementioned areas.