Cyclone Arnab makes landfall in India as impact on Sri Lanka begins to ease

The impact of Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab on Sri Lanka is gradually weakening as the system moves across the Andhra Pradesh coast in India, the Department of Meteorology said on Wednesday.

Although the cyclone is moving away from Sri Lanka, rain and strong winds are still expected in several parts of the country.

Several spells of rain are forecast in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle and Matara districts.

Showers or thundershowers may also develop at a few places in the Uva Province and the Batticaloa and Ampara districts after 1 p.m.

Strong winds of around 40 to 50 km/h are expected at times over the western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-Central and North-Western provinces and the Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.

The public has been advised to take precautions against temporary strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Meanwhile, a red warning for strong winds and rough seas remains in force for parts of the Bay of Bengal and the deep and shallow sea areas around Sri Lanka.

The warning was issued at 9 p.m. on Tuesday and is valid for 24 hours.

At 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, Arnab was located about 800 kilometres north-east of Kankesanthurai. The Department of Meteorology had forecast that the system would cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds associated with the cyclone were expected to reach 125 to 135 km/h, with gusts of up to 150 km/h.

In the affected sea areas, winds could range between 80 and 150 km/h, while waves could rise to between six and nine metres. Heavy thundershowers and very rough seas are also possible.

Fishermen and naval vessels have been advised to avoid sea areas between 10 and 20 degrees north latitude and 80 and 90 degrees east longitude until further notice. Those already in the affected waters have been urged to move to safer areas.

The Sri Lanka Navy has meanwhile prepared 171 disaster-relief teams to respond to emergencies caused by the adverse weather.

As of Tuesday, 17 teams had already been deployed or placed on standby in the Sabaragamuwa, North-Western, Western, Southern and Eastern provinces.

Three teams have been positioned in Ratnapura and two in Yatiyantota, while teams have also been deployed in Meethotamulla, Nawalapitiya, Gampola and Mahiyanganaya.

Two teams have been deployed in Puttalam, with additional teams in Nikaweratiya, Kurunegala and Neelabemma. Teams have also been placed on standby in Thawalama and Diganpathana.

The Navy said the deployments were intended to ensure a rapid response to emergencies and provide relief to communities affected by severe weather.