Low-Pressure System in Bay of Bengal Likely to Develop Into Depression Today, Met Department Warns

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Department of Meteorology says the low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal near the North Andaman Islands is likely to develop into a depression today.

The system is expected to move west-northwestwards and intensify further, potentially developing into a deep depression by tomorrow.

Accordingly, there is a high probability of the system intensifying into a cyclone over the west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 26.

Although the system is not expected to directly affect Sri Lanka, changes in wind patterns could lead to increased rainfall in the southwestern parts of the country.

Accordingly, showers or thundershowers are expected at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Northern and North Western provinces.

Showers may also occur in other parts of the island after 1 p.m.

Wind speeds over the sea areas off the coast, from Kankesanthurai to Pottuvil via Puttalam, Colombo, Galle, Matara and Hambantota, could increase to between 60 and 70 kilometres per hour.

The Department of Fisheries has advised fishing and naval communities to avoid venturing into sea areas of the Bay of Bengal north of 10 degrees north latitude.

Meanwhile, landslide early warnings issued for several Divisional Secretariat divisions in the Kegalle, Ratnapura, Badulla, Colombo, Kalutara, Kandy, Kurunegala, Monaragala and Nuwara Eliya districts remain in effect.