FANI intensifies : Fishermen advised not to set out to sea

Colombo (News1st) - The cyclonic storm ‘FANI’ over the southeast Bay of Bengal, to the east of Sri Lanka, is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hours and further intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm in the subsequent 24 hours. According to the Met Department, the system is very likely to move northwestwards off the east coast till 1^st May and thereafter recurve northeastwards gradually. Strong windy and showery conditions are expected over the island today and tomorrow. Strong winds up to 60 kmph can be expected over the island particularly in Northern, North-Central, North-Western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee and Ampara districts. Showers or thundershowers at times will occur over most parts of the island. Very heavy rainfall above 150 mm can be expected at some places in the Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, Western and North-Western provinces and in Mannar district and also heavy rainfall about 100 mm are also likely elsewhere. The met department also notes that showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the sea around the island. Heavy showers are likely in the Western, Southern and Eastern coastal areas. Winds will be south-westerly over the coastal areas around the island and speeds are expected to be around 30-40 kmph with a possibility of increasing up to 50-60 kmph at times. Wind speed will be 70-80 kmph over the deep sea areas to the South, Southeast, and East of Sri Lanka. The met department also warns that wind speeds can increase up to 100 kmph in the seas within 200-300 km from the center of the system Fishermen have been advised not to go to sea in the South-western, Southern, Eastern, South-Eastern, North-Eastern and Northern parts of Sri Lanka until further notice.