The Department of Meteorology has recorded a 1°C rise in sea temperatures around Sri Lanka as El Niño conditions persist, with authorities warning of an extended drought period that has already impacted tens of thousands of people across multiple districts.
Sea temperatures surrounding Sri Lanka have increased by approximately 1°C as the El Niño phenomenon continues to influence weather patterns across the Indian Ocean region. This localized warming is occurring within a broader context of Pacific Ocean temperature rises of around 3°C, according to the Department of Meteorology. The combination of these factors has created conditions that authorities describe as particularly concerning for the months ahead.
The next eight months are expected to be critical for Sri Lanka as the country grapples with intensifying drought conditions. Both daytime and nighttime temperatures have risen noticeably, while weather officials caution that certain affected areas may not receive significant rainfall until late September. This extended dry period threatens water-dependent sectors across the nation, with the Disaster Management Centre reporting that drought conditions have already affected 81,605 people spread across 22 Divisional Secretariat areas in seven districts.
Water management authorities are taking precautionary measures in response to the crisis. The Department of Irrigation has stated that while essential drinking water supplies from reservoirs and tanks will continue to be provided, the release of water for agricultural purposes may need to be restricted. Officials are maintaining close surveillance of the situation as Sri Lanka confronts the prospect of sustained heat stress and water scarcity in the coming period.
