Sri Lanka is likely to experience above-normal rainfall during October and November, followed by significantly drier conditions early next year as the ongoing El Niño strengthens, Wijemanne said.
Wijemanne told the media that the El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean had strengthened further over the past month, with the latest global forecasts indicating unusually high sea-surface temperatures across key monitoring regions.
He said Sri Lanka could see relatively low rainfall during the next two weeks of September before rainfall gradually increases towards the end of the month.
“We expect widespread rainfall across the country, with October and November receiving above-normal rainfall,” he said.
Wijemanne stressed that El Niño does not simply mean drought for Sri Lanka, explaining that its impact varies depending on the country’s monsoon cycle.
He said increased rainfall is expected during the October-November second inter-monsoon period, while rainfall is likely to decline after January.
According to Wijemanne, drier-than-normal conditions could affect many parts of Sri Lanka during January, February, March and possibly April next year, creating a potential risk of water shortages.
He said authorities should therefore use the coming months to prepare for both increased rainfall later this year and possible dry conditions early next year, including through appropriate water management.
Wijemanne said a Cabinet-appointed committee on El Niño is already meeting regularly, bringing together relevant state agencies to assess the developing situation and take necessary precautions.
He added that both daytime and nighttime temperatures in Sri Lanka are also expected to remain relatively high during the El Niño period. (Newswire)