The Natural Hazards Early Warning Center has issued a warning of heavy rain, rough sea and strong wind for Eastern-Northern Land and Sea areas.
According to the warning issued, "the low pressure area over Bay of Bengal southeast to Sri Lanka (05N-11N,80.5E-88E) is expected to intensify further into a depression during next 24 hours and intensify further
into a cyclonic storm during susequent 24 hours. It is likely to move northwestwards towards Northeast coast of Srilanka on 24th of November".
For Sea Area:
Under the influence of aforementioned system, possibility for intemittent showers or thundershowers and sudden roughness, associated with sudden increase of wind speed up to (70-80)kmph is high over Eastern and Northern, deep and shallow sea areas during next 24
hours.
Wind speed can increase up to (50-60) kmph at times over sea area extending from Puttalam to Matara via Colombo.
There is a possibility that near shore sea areas off the coast extending from Mannar to Pottuvil via Kankesanthurai, Trincomalee and Batticaloa may experience surges due to the effect of swell waves, having (2.0-3.0) m height during next few days.
For Land Area
Very strong gusty winds (60-70)kmph can be expected in Eastern, Northern and North-central. Strong gusty winds (40-50)kmph elsewhere.
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should: be alert on the advisories issued by the Department of Meteorology. People living in Eastern, Northern and North-Central provinces are requested to be vigilant.
For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
Therefore Naval units and fishing communities have been asked to be vigilant in this regard.