The Department of Meteorology has warned that the active El Niño weather pattern is likely to bring prolonged hot and dry conditions across Sri Lanka over the coming months.
Authorities have urged the public to use water and electricity responsibly as the country prepares for an extended period of reduced rainfall.
Director General of Meteorology Ajith Wijemanne said the current El Niño conditions are expected to persist for another eight to ten months, potentially lasting until March or April 2027.
He noted that the phenomenon is expected to intensify between October and December before gradually weakening during the first quarter of next year, according to global weather forecasts.
Although showers are expected in the coming days over the Sabaragamuwa, Western and North Western provinces, as well as the Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts, dry and extremely hot conditions are forecast for the Northern, North Central and Eastern provinces, as well as Hambantota, from late July through early August.
Temperatures have already exceeded 35°C in Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Batticaloa.
The public has been advised to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight between 2.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m., stay well hydrated and take extra precautions to protect young children and people with non-communicable diseases from heat-related illnesses.
Wijemanne also stressed the importance of carefully managing water resources, noting that even if reservoir levels improve following rainfall in late September and October, the stored water must be conserved to meet demand during the first three months of 2027.
Meanwhile, the Department of Irrigation and the Mahaweli Authority have already launched a special water management programme to minimise the impact of declining reservoir levels caused by the prevailing dry weather.
Source – The Morning
