El Niño raises risk of heavy rain, floods and landslides

The Meteorology Department has warned of widespread rainfall across Sri Lanka over the next 10 days, with the prevailing El Niño condition increasing the risk of heavy rain, floods and landslides.

Meteorology Department Director General Ajith Wijemanne, speaking at a media briefing yesterday (16), said preparations were under way to face the impact of El Niño, but urged the authorities and the public to remain vigilant as extreme weather conditions could intensify in the coming months.

He said October and November were traditionally marked by frequent weather disturbances in the Bay of Bengal, adding that El Niño could intensify such systems and result in increased rainfall, raising the risk of flooding and landslides.

Wijemanne said heavier rainfall was expected in the northeastern parts of the country in December, while the Northern and Eastern Provinces were forecast to receive normal rainfall.

However, he cautioned that flooding could still occur in these areas due to the prevailing Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions.

Looking further ahead, Wijemanne said temperatures were expected to rise and rainfall to decline between February and April 2027.

He stressed the importance of managing water resources carefully in preparation for the anticipated dry period, while calling for continued preparedness to deal with extreme weather events.