Sri Lanka braces for EL Nino impact by May

Sri Lanka braces for EL Nino impact by May

27 Mar 2026 Daily Mirror

• It could prevent the Southwest Monsoon if it becomes active by May
• The island is not likely to experience very heavy rains until October this year
• There however may be few thundershowers around mid-April
• The El Nino Phenomenon could also prolong the dry spell
• Severe dry spells expected
• The heat index, which computes the temperature felt on the human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’

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By Yohan Perera

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Sri Lanka is expected to face the EL Nino phenomenon by May this year where a dry spell could occur resulting in severe heat, a climatologist warned yesterday.  Climatologist Malith Fernando told the Daily Mirror that Sri Lanka could face the phenomenon by early May this year. “El Nino is actually an index which is to do with heat. Sri Lanka will experience the phenomenon by May if the index exceeds .5 “ he said.   

“It could prevent the Southwest Monsoon if it becomes active by May” he added.   
However he said Sri Lanka could experience showers in mid April. 

El Niño is a natural climate pattern characterized by the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, weakening trade winds and shifting global weather. Occurring every 3 to 5 years, this warm phase of the ENSO cycle often triggers hotter, drier conditions in Australia and Southeast Asia, while causing heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of the Americas. 

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing a dry spell as formation of clouds are less, according to Director General Department of Meteorology Athula Karunanayake who said the island is not likely to experience very heavy rains until October this year. 

 Mr. Karunanayake recently forecasted that El Nino Phenomenon could also prolong the dry spell.  

However, there may be few thundershowers around mid-April as it is the usual case every year. These rains are not expected to be heavy according to the Department of Meteorology.  
Meanwhile, the Department said the heat index, which computes the temperature felt on the human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North-western, Northern and North Central provinces and in the Moneragala District.