Cyclone Ditwah: Met Officers Say Early Warnings Were Issued Correctly

The Sri Lanka Association of Meteorologists has defended the Department of Meteorology, stating that officials followed all required Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) when issuing alerts ahead of Cyclone Ditwah. According to the Association, the warnings enabled fishing and naval communities to prepare early and avoid loss of life.

The clarification comes in response to public criticism alleging that the Met Department failed to issue timely warnings about the cyclone.

The Association noted that Cyclone Ditwah formed and intensified at an unusually rapid pace—transitioning from a low-pressure system into a storm in just 12 hours. Such rapid intensification, they said, has become more common due to global warming and sudden shifts in atmospheric patterns.

They also acknowledged the limitations of Sri Lanka’s existing early-warning system and stressed the urgent need for upgrades to ensure more precise forecasts during extreme weather events. Work to strengthen these systems is already underway, they added.

Meteorologists first identified early signs of atmospheric instability related to Ditwah on November 23. This information, the Association said, was immediately communicated to fishing and naval communities, along with a public advisory about the likelihood of a developing low-pressure area around November 25.

On November 24, while the system was still distant in the central Bay of Bengal, updated marine warnings—including an Amber alert—were issued based on new observations. The evolving situation was shared with both the public and key stakeholders.

The Association also rejected claims circulating online that the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecast the cyclone as early as November 13. It called these claims inaccurate, noting that no forecasting system in the world can reliably predict cyclone formation weeks in advance.

According to the Association, the IMD—Sri Lanka’s designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre—officially reported the system’s initial development only in its bulletin issued at 2.30 p.m. on November 23, 2025.