Hot humid weather in Sri Lanka is expected to ease by mid-May as the Southwest Monsoon becomes active, Met Department says.
Hot humid weather currently affecting Sri Lanka is expected to ease by the middle of May with the activation of the Southwest Monsoon, the Department of Meteorology said today.
Director General of the Department of Meteorology, Athula Karunanayake, said cooler conditions are expected around May 15, bringing relief after weeks of uncomfortable heat and excessive perspiration.
“We have come to the last stages of hot, humid weather,” he told Daily Mirror.
“The heat which the Sri Lankans experienced will end around May 15. Also, we are expecting the Southwest Monsoon to become active around the same time,” he said.
Mr. Karunanayake said several factors had contributed to the intense heat experienced by Sri Lankans in recent weeks. These included excess humidity, increased radiation, and reduced wind flow.
He explained that excess humidity in the atmosphere caused people to perspire even during the night. The same humidity also prevented sweat from the human body from being absorbed into the atmosphere, making conditions feel more uncomfortable.
The reduction in wind flow had also affected cloud formation above Sri Lanka, contributing to a dry spell that lasted for several weeks.
However, evening showers currently being experienced in some areas are expected to increase around May 8, according to Mr. Karunanayake.
The heat remained high in several areas even today. Polonnaruwa recorded 34°C, while Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, and Ratnapura recorded 33°C.
Meanwhile, the Department of Meteorology forecast showers and thundershowers in several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North Western, and Eastern Provinces, and in Polonnaruwa, Galle, and Matara Districts.
Fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 50mm is also expected in a few places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces, as well as in Galle and Matara Districts.
What happens next could be critical for households, farmers, and workers, as the expected arrival of the Southwest Monsoon may finally bring relief from the hot, humid conditions that have affected the country in recent weeks.
