Tropical downpours to renew flood threat in Sri Lanka - report
October 3, 2018 08:14 am
Daily downpours will heighten the risk for flooding across parts of southern India and Sri Lanka into this weekend, according to AccuWeather.
Parts of Kerala are still reeling from the worst flooding in decades that killed nearly 500 people in August.
While drier weather has allowed for some recovery in recent weeks, rainfall will increase this week and could result in new flooding problems in the region.
Kerala and neighboring Tamil Nadu will face the greatest risk for flooding while occasional downpours spread northward into southern Karnataka and southern Andhra Pradesh.
Total rainfall through Sunday will average 50-100 mm (2-4 inches) across Kerala and Tamil Nadu; however, local amounts up to 200 mm (8 inches) are possible and may produce life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides.
These downpours will also bring a high risk for flooding to Sri Lanka this week, the report said.
While all of Sri Lanka will be at risk for flooding, the heaviest rainfall will target western parts of the island, including Colombo, Galle and Negombo.
Total rainfall of 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) is expected in these hardest-hit areas, which will produce flooding and heighten the risk for mudslides.
While these daily downpours drench southern India and Sri Lanka, a tropical cyclone will attempt to develop west of Kerala in the Arabian Sea.
At this time, development is expected; however, the cyclone is forecast to remain several hundred miles west of the western coast of India from this weekend into early next week.
No direct impacts are expected from the cyclone, but moisture will be pulled into southern India due to the circulation around the storm, bringing additional downpours into next week.
This rainfall will be a precursor to the northeast monsoon, which brings roughly 50 percent of the yearly normal rainfall to parts of southeastern India.
A near- to above-normal northeast monsoon is expected and will bring additional bouts of heavy rainfall to parts of southern India and Sri Lanka from the middle of October into early December.
Source: AccuWeather
-Agencies
