Cyclone Phailin’s affect on Sri Lanka gradually decreasing

The Department of Meteorology today said that the severe cyclonic storm Phailin has entered into India and that its effect on Sri Lanka’s weather is “gradually decreasing”.

Final preparations are underway in India for Cyclone Phailin—now officially the strongest storm ever measured in the Indian Ocean.

Almost half a million people have fled the eastern Indian coast, many leaving just hours before the “super cyclone” hit the country.

The vast weather system – cyclone Phailin – was generating winds of up to 220km/h (136mph) and forcing huge waves far inland even before it struck the shores of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh states just after 9pm local time.

Aid and disaster management officials have estimated that up to 12 million people lie in its path.

Sri Lanka’s Met Department, however, forecasts several spells of showers in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Southern provinces.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the sea area around the island, it said.

Winds will be Southwesterly and speed will be 30-40 km/hr. The  sea areas off the coast extending from Hambantota to Pottuvil may be fairly rough at times as the winds can be strengthen up to 50kmph at times, the weather forecast predicts.