Incessant rains pose landslide and flood threats
November 20, 2023According to Met. Department’s latest weather forecast issued today (Nov. 20) showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in most provinces of the island after 01.00 p.m.
Fairly heavy showers above 75 mm are likely at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces. Showers may occur at some places in Northern and Eastern provinces and in Puttalam district during the morning too.
Areas in the Kegalle, Galigamuwa, and Aranayaka Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the Kegalle district have been issued with a Level 3 landslide red alert by the National Building Research Organization (NBRO).
Several areas in the Badulla, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Ratnapura, Matale and Hambantota districts have also been issued Level 2 and Level 1 landslide warnings.
Meanwhile, the Irrigation Department has extended the flood warning issued to areas in the Deduru Oya basin. Rising water levels in the Deduru Oya and Maha Oya have posed a minor flood threat to low lying areas.
According to the Irrigation Department due to considerable rains in the upstream/catchment areas, the spill gates of the Deduru Oya reservoir are opened and discharging water at the rate of 22,400 cubic feet /sec which may increase. Increased water levels in the river may pose flooding in downstream areas in Wariyapola, Nikaweratiya, Mahawa, Kobeigane, Bingiriya, Pallama, Chilaw, Arachchikattuwa and Rasnayakapura D/S divisions.
A maximum rainfall of 146.44mm was recorded at Dummalasooriya in Kurunegala during the last 24 hours.
