Tropical Cyclone threat to Sri Lanka

While Tropical Cyclone Megh is moving away from India, a new tropical concern threatens to cause flooding in southeastern India and Sri Lanka later this weekend and early next week.

The AccuWeather Tropical Cyclone Centre is keeping a close eye on a developing area of low pressure in the southern Bay of Bengal.The low is expected to track westward toward southeastern India and Sri Lanka this weekend before moving onshore early next week.

The combination of warm waters and a lack of strong wind shear could allow the low to develop into a tropical depression or weak cyclone (the equivalent of a minimal tropical storm in the Atlantic or Pacific oceans).

Localised damaging winds would then become a concern in the vicinity of where the low eventually moves inland. Even if development does not occur and winds are not an issue, residents southeastern Sri Lanka should prepare for flash flooding.

Downpours will become increasingly more numerous into this weekend as the low approaches. Steadier and heavier rain will then accompany the low onshore Monday and Tuesday.