Unusually heavy rain lashes Sri Lanka by Philip Avery
Heavy rain across Sri Lanka has led to widespread flooding in the past few days, with more than 370,000 people being displaced. The hardest hit area has been the city of Jaffna in Northern Province, where over 60,000 people have been left homeless.
The intensity of this rainfall is unusual for Sri Lanka at this time of year. Heavy rain is normally associated with the Asiatic Monsoon, which runs from June until October, often leading to widespread floods. From December through February the country experiences drier weather, with clear skies and little rain.
The result of this heavy rain is an area of low pressure which is currently lying over the Bay of Bengal. It is forecast to track northwards, intensifying the heavy showers and thunderstorms heading towards the country. Forecasters at the Sri Lankan Meteorological Department have issued a weather warning for the next 24 hours for the country’s Northern Province.
