The Department of Meteorology says showers or thundershowers can be expected at times in the Northern, North-central, Eastern and Uva province over the next 36 hours from 4:00 p.m.

today (Dec.02).As such, heavy showers of above 100mm are likely in parts of the Northern, North-central and Eastern provinces.  Several spells of showers will occur in other provinces of the island.Strong winds of about 40-50 kmph can be expected at times over the Northern, North Central, North Western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts.The general public is advised to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.Meanwhile, the depression over southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a deep depression and was located near latitude 10.7°N and longitude 83.2°E, at 5:30 a.m.

today (Dec.02) and about 321km northeast of Trincomalee.The department says this system is likely to develop into a cyclonic storm by tomorrow and is expected to move west and northwestward near the North coast of Sri Lanka towards the North Tamil Nadu coast of India by Monday (Dec.04).

Thereafter, it will move northwards as a cyclonic storm and cross South Andhra Pradesh coasts on Tuesday (Dec.05).