CURRENTS

The currents are monsoonal in character. South of latitude 8deg N the set is mainly south-easterly from May to the end of September (the SW monsoon) with an average rate of 0.5-0.8kn. In April the flow is considerably lighter though also mainly south-easterly. The current is variable in October but in November becomes predominantly north-westerly, the average rate being about 0.5kn and from December to the end of February (the NE monsoon) predominantly W to WSW, average rate 0.5-0.8kn. In March the current becomes veriable again.
Near latitude 8deg N in the SW monsoon, a branch diverges from the south-easterly stream and turns north-eastward into the Gulf of Mannar. In the NE monsoon there is a south-westerly flow from the gulf which converges with the W to west-south-westerly flow to the south of the gulf. Near the coasts the currents tend to become diverted and flow more or less parallel with coasts.
The currents may, on occation, be markedly different from these average conditions and rates in excess of 2kn may occur with prolonged strong winds.