– Cyclonic Storm ‘Arnab’, which has developed over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal, is expected to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm tomorrow (October 27), the Meteorology Department said.The system, which moved westwards, was centered at 8.30 a.m. today (October 26) near latitude 15.4°N and longitude 88.5°E, about 1,100 km northeast of Kankesanthurai.The Department said the storm was likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by 5.30 p.m. today.

It is expected to further intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm tomorrow before making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast of India around 11.30 a.m. on October 28.Although the system is not expected to have a direct impact on Sri Lanka, showery weather is likely to continue over the southwestern parts of the island during the next few days due to wind patterns associated with the storm.Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North-Western, Central and North-Central provinces, as well as in the Trincomalee District. Fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 75 mm is likely at some locations in these areas.