The Department of Meteorology has issued a warm weather advisory for the Northern, North-Central and Eastern provinces and the Monaragala district, warning that the heat index is likely to rise to “Caution” level in some areas during the daytime.
The advisory was issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 4.00 p.m. on Thursday 2 October and remains valid until 3 October, the Daily Mirror reported. The department urged people in the affected areas to prepare for and take precautions against the increased daytime heat.
The heat index is the temperature the human body actually feels, combining air temperature with humidity. “Caution” is the lowest of the department’s warning levels; prolonged exposure and physical activity at that level can cause fatigue.
A narrower area than earlier in the day
The evening advisory covers less ground than the one issued that morning.
At 12.53 p.m. the department had put a “Caution” level heat alert over 13 districts — the Northern, North-Central and Eastern provinces plus Moneragala, Hambantota and Ratnapura — for that day, according to an earlier Daily Mirror report.
The 4 p.m. advisory drops Hambantota and Ratnapura, leaving the three provinces and Monaragala — roughly 11 districts — in scope for Friday.
Rain in the same 24 hours
Heat was not the only hazard on Thursday. The department also forecast showers or thundershowers after 1 p.m. in most parts of the island, with falls above 75mm possible at some places in the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Western, Uva, Southern, North-Western and North-Central provinces, Hiru News reported.
Misty conditions were expected during the early morning in parts of the Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces. The department advised the public to take precautions against temporary strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
The combination is seasonal rather than contradictory: the dry, hot zone sits over the north and east while convective afternoon storms build over the central hills and south-west.
Recent advisories
The department issued an amber-level lightning advisory for six regions on 1 October, and a similar alert with heavy rain the day before.
