The Department of Meteorology has issued an advisory for the deep and shallow sea areas around the island due to the cyclonic storm “YAAS” in the East Central Bay of Bengal. The deep depression located in East Central Bay of Bengal has intensified in to a cyclonic storm (“YAAS”) and lay centered near latitude 16.3N longitude 89.7E, on 24th May around 05.30 a.m. This system is very likely to intensify into a severer cyclonic storm by 25th May and will further intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm during subsequent 24 hours, the department warned. It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and reach near west Bengal coasts by evening of 26th May. There is also a possibility that near shore sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Galle via Colombo may experience surges due to the effect of swell waves, having 2.5-3.0 m height.
