Deep depression in Bay of Bengal likely to intensify further

A deep depression in the Bay of Bengal, located southeast of Sri Lanka, is expected to strengthen and shift northwest toward the Sri Lankan coast between Pottuvil and Trincomalee this evening, according to the Department of Meteorology. As of 4:00 a.m. on January 9, 2026, it was about 200 km southeast of Batticaloa. Most areas of the island will see cloudy weather, with showers or thundershowers likely in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva, Central, and North-western provinces. Other regions may also experience showers or thundershowers during the evening or night. Some areas in the Northern and North-central provinces, as well as in Matale, Trincomalee, and Puttalam districts, could see heavy rainfall exceeding 100 mm. In Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, and Batticaloa districts, fairly heavy rains of about 50-75 mm are also possible. Winds may become very strong, reaching speeds of 50-60 km/h, with gusts up to 70 km/h in the Eastern slopes of the central hills, as well as the Northern, North-central, North-western, Central, Uva, and Eastern provinces, along with Gampaha and Colombo districts. The public is advised to take necessary precautions to reduce the risk of damage from strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.