August 11, Colombo (LNW): The Department of Meteorology has issued an Amber Advisory for severe lightning, effective from 2:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on 11 August 2024.
The advisory warns that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to impact the North-central, Eastern, and Uva provinces, as well as the Mullaittivu district, during the evening or night.
Temporary localised strong winds may accompany these thundershowers, and the public is urged to take necessary precautions to minimise potential damages caused by lightning activity.
The Department has advised the public to:
- Seek shelter indoors and avoid being under trees.
- Stay away from open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations, and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
- Refrain from using wired telephones and connected electrical appliances.
- Avoid using open vehicles like bicycles, tractors, and boats.
- Be vigilant about fallen trees and power lines.
For emergency assistance, the public is encouraged to contact local disaster management authorities.
