Leaving
Level 1 · WatchTue 10 Nov
Watch on 53 km near Ratnapura
Around Ratnapura, km 97–150.
You reach it about Tue 12:55, 2 h 50 min after leaving, and are through it by Tue 14:55.
NBRI’s bulletin is valid until Tue 20:00, so it covers that time.
NBRI’s advice, as issued
Since the rainfall within the past 24 hours has exceeded 75mm, if the rain continues, be watchful on the possibility of landslides, slope failures, rock falls, cutting failures and ground subsidence.
NBRI, issued Mon 9 Nov, 20:00 · valid to Tue 10 Nov, 20:00lankawatch.org
Your road · 150 km~4 h 50 min
NBRI WatchNot listedRiver crossingRain gauge
- Badulla to Haldummulla
Not listedkm 0–97 - Ratnapura
Watchkm 97–150
LandslideWatch1 stretch · NBRI’s adviceRainFairly heavy rain, up to 65 mm in 24 hLast 3 days, satellite: About 1–2 days a month are this wet hereWeatherShowers or thundershowers after 1.00p.mRatnapura 33° / 23°Rivers15 crossingsThaldena: Below Alert · falling · Walawe Ganga basin rain: Rare here (1–2 days a month) · rain upstream of Kalu Ganga: Rare here (1–2 days a month)
Level 1 · WatchTue 10 Nov
Watch on 89 km between Hali-Ela and Ratnapura
Around Ella and Wellawaya, km 13–83, km 139–156, km 187–193.
You reach it about Tue 10:25, 20 min after leaving, and are through it by Tue 15:10.
NBRI’s bulletin is valid until Tue 20:00, so it covers that time.
NBRI’s advice, as issued
Since the rainfall within the past 24 hours has exceeded 75mm, if the rain continues, be watchful on the possibility of landslides, slope failures, rock falls, cutting failures and ground subsidence.
NBRI, issued Mon 9 Nov, 20:00 · valid to Tue 10 Nov, 20:00lankawatch.org
Your road · 193 km~5 h 10 min
NBRI WatchNot listedRiver crossingRain gaugeNo report
- Badulla to Hali-Ela
Not listedkm 0–13 - Ella to Wellawaya
Watchkm 13–82 - Udawalawe to Pallebedda
Not listedkm 82–140 - Godakawela to Madampe
Watchkm 140–155 - between Madampe and Ratnapura
Not listedkm 155–188 - Ratnapura
Watchkm 188–192
LandslideWatch3 stretches · NBRI’s adviceRainFairly heavy rain, up to 93.8 mm in 24 hLast 3 days, satellite: About 1–2 days a month are this wet hereWeatherShowers or thundershowers after 1.00p.mRatnapura 33° / 23°Rivers19 crossingsThaldena: Below Alert · falling · Walawe Ganga basin rain: Rare here (1–2 days a month) · rain upstream of Kalu Ganga: Rare here (1–2 days a month)
Next update usually today by 17:45.
Before you go
We don’t know about road closures or damage. Be cautious on the way, especially in the hills in rain.
About the Badulla–Ratnapura road
The fastest road we know from Badulla to Ratnapura is 150 km, about 4 h 50 min, via Etampitiya, Welimada.
Main roads on it: Ratunapura-Wellawaya Road (38 km), Ratnapura-Wewelwatte Road (24 km), Balangoda-Rassagala-Uwella Road (14 km).
We show 2 roads between them, fastest first.
DS divisions on this road
It passes through 8 DS divisions in 2 districts, in travel order:
Past NBRI bulletins
Most often listed on this road, in the 41 NBRI bulletins we have passed on since Sun 20 Sept: Ratnapura (35), Imbulpe (19), Balangoda (17).
A record of past bulletins, not a forecast. Not being listed doesn’t mean safe.
Steep terrain
About 22 km of it runs through steep terrain (slopes over 30° beside the road). The longest stretch is near Haldummulla.
Terrain beside the road, from a satellite elevation model: not the road’s gradient and not a landslide hazard rating.
How to read this
- Not an official service. NBRI’s warnings are passed on as issued.
- Rain levels compare each division with its own satellite record since 2000. Satellites can miss heavy local downpours.
- Gauge sources: Department of Meteorology and Irrigation Department gauge readings, passed on as published. Met gauge sites are approximate. Compared with each division's own satellite record since 2000. This is not a warning and does not replace NBRI's levels. Satellites can miss heavy local downpours, so it never means a road is safe. Satellite data up to 10 Nov, 04:30. Checked Tue 10 Nov, 10:10.
Was this page useful?Thanks, noted.
Landslide (NBRI)
×| Warned DS division | Level | From km |
|---|---|---|
| Balangoda | Watch | 97 |
| Ratnapura | Watch | 114 |
Rain on route
×Fairly heavy rain, up to 65 mm in 24 h
Rain gauges near your route
1234567891011121314151617
0150 km
Key
DryLight rainModerate rainHeavy rainVery heavy rainNo rain report
- 1 Badulla, 12.1 mm, moderate rain
- 2 Bogahamaditta (NBRI), 9.8 mm, light rain
- 3 Uduwara (NBRI), 0.8 mm, dry
- 4 Etampitiya (NBRI), 0.2 mm, dry
- 5 Keppetipola (NBRI), 0 mm, dry
- 6 Mirahawaththa (NBRI), 0 mm, dry
- 7 Diyathalawa (NBRI), 0 mm, dry
- 8 Haputhale (NBRI), 32 mm, moderate rain
- 9 Haldamulla (NBRI), 17.2 mm, moderate rain
- 10 Samanala Wawa, 0 mm, dry
- 11 Belihuloya (NBRI), 65 mm, fairly heavy rain
- 12 Imbulpe (NBRI), 20.8 mm, moderate rain
- 13 Pettigala (NBRI), 20 mm, moderate rain
- 14 Waleboda (NBRI), 0 mm, dry
- 15 Wewelwaththa (NBRI), 46.8 mm, moderate rain
- 16 Galaboda (NBRI), 48.6 mm, moderate rain
- 17 Ratnapura, 8.3 mm, light rain
Gauge coverage: most of the route.
NBRI's warning stays in force after rain eases.
Satellite estimate
- Last 3 days: among the wettest 5% of 3-day periods since 2000 in Imbulpe, Balangoda, Ratnapura.
Rain outlook (computer model) · Next day: Chance of a rare wet day
- Next day: a chance of a wet day of the kind that comes about 1–2 days a month in Badulla, Hali-Ela, Welimada, Haputale +4 (the wettest 5% of days there; several times the usual chance). (10 Nov, 05:30 to 11 Nov, 05:30)
- Next 3 days: a chance of a wet day of the kind that comes about 1–2 days a month in Badulla, Hali-Ela, Welimada, Haputale +4 (the wettest 5% of days there; several times the usual chance). (10 Nov, 05:30 to 13 Nov, 05:30)
- "Not signalled" never means dry or safe. This is a computer model, not a warning, and it never changes NBRI's levels. Like the satellite, it reads hill-country rain low and can miss heavy local downpours.
- ECMWF ensemble forecast (open data, CC BY 4.0), run 9 Nov, 17:30, compared with each division's own satellite record.
Weather forecast (Met Dept)
×No advisory for this road
- No Department of Meteorology advisory is in force for Badulla and Ratnapura.
- Forecast issued 10 Nov, 05:30
- Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern province and in Trincomalee district.
- Showers or thundershowers will occur elsewhere in the island after 1.00 p.m.
- Covers Ratnapura and Badulla on this road: Heavy falls above 100mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.
- Showers may occur in the coastal areas of the Southern Province during the morning.
- The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
- Covers Ratnapura and Badulla on this road: Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Galle, Matara and Kurunegala districts during the early hours of the morning.
- Forecast for the main cities, Tuesday, 10 November 2026 (issued 9 Nov, 16:00)
- Ratnapura: Showers or thundershowers after 1.00p.m. Max 33°C, min 23°C.
- A forecast never lowers or replaces the NBRI landslide warning above.
- Forecast and advisories by the Department of Meteorology, Sri Lanka, as issued. LankaWatch is not an official service.
Rivers and catchments
×Crosses 14 named rivers · 3 basins · Walawe Ganga basin rain: Rare here (1–2 days a month) · rain upstream of Kalu Ganga: Rare here (1–2 days a month)
Mahaweli Ganga · Walawe Ganga · Kalu Ganga
ThaldenaBelow Alert · River level 0.84 mDepartment’s thresholds: Alert 3, minor flood 4, major flood 5 m
River basins along this road
- km 0–55 · Mahaweli Ganga basin
- km 55–113 · Walawe Ganga basin
- km 113–150 · Kalu Ganga basin
Satellite rain over these basins
- Walawe Ganga basin · Last 3 days: Rare here (1–2 days a month)
- Kalu Ganga basin · Last 3 days: Rare here (1–2 days a month)
- Mahaweli Ganga basin · Last 3 days: Unusual here (3 days a month)
A whole-basin satellite average against that basin’s own record since 2000, not the area upstream of any one point. Satellites under-read hill rain. Not a warning.
Where this road crosses a river or stream
- km 2–6 · Badulu Oya (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · 3 crossings · flows east
126 km² drain to this point
Thaldena, an Irrigation Department gauge 18.6 km downstream (279 km² upstream · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Unusual here (3 days a month)): 10.2 mm in the 24 hours to 10 Nov, 08:30 (Moderate); 0 mm in the 3 hours to 10 Nov, 10:03.
River level 0.84 m · Below Alert · falling over about 3 hours (Department’s thresholds: Alert 3, minor flood 4, major flood 5 m) - km 23–24 · Uma Oya (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · 2 crossings · flows west
369 km² drain to this point · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Unusual here (3 days a month) - km 25–28 · Dougolla Oya (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · 3 crossings · flows east
190 km² drain to this point · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Unusual here (3 days a month) - km 41 · Kandapuhulpola Kandura (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · flows south-east
16 km² drain to this point - km 46 · Ellatotakanda Oya (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · flows north
28 km² drain to this point - km 61 · Diyakana Oya (Walawe Ganga basin) · flows south-west
0.5 km² drain to this point - km 65 · Patana Oya (Walawe Ganga basin) · flows east
0.2 km² drain to this point - km 71 · Weli Oya (Walawe Ganga basin) · flows south-east
23 km² drain to this point - km 78 · Malape Oya (Walawe Ganga basin) · flows south-east
2.7 km² drain to this point - km 83 · Kiriketi Oya (Walawe Ganga basin) · flows south-east
19 km² drain to this point - km 86 · Belihul Oya (Walawe Ganga basin) · flows south-east
50 km² drain to this point - km 98 · Walawe Ganga · flows south-east
132 km² drain to this point - km 122 · Randi Oya (Kalu Ganga basin) · flows south-west
18 km² drain to this point - km 139 · Kalu Ganga
2.1 km² drain to this point
Rathnapura, an Irrigation Department gauge on this river (640 km² upstream · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Rare here (1–2 days a month)): 39.5 mm in the 24 hours to 10 Nov, 08:30 (Moderate); 0 mm in the 3 hours to 10 Nov, 10:01.
River level 4.73 m · Below Alert · falling over about 3 hours (Department’s thresholds: Alert 5.2, minor flood 7.5, major flood 9.5 m) - km 144–147 · Kalu Ganga · 4 crossings
199 km² drain to this point · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Rare here (1–2 days a month)
Rathnapura, an Irrigation Department gauge on this river (640 km² upstream · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Rare here (1–2 days a month)): 39.5 mm in the 24 hours to 10 Nov, 08:30 (Moderate); 0 mm in the 3 hours to 10 Nov, 10:01.
River level 4.73 m · Below Alert · falling over about 3 hours (Department’s thresholds: Alert 5.2, minor flood 7.5, major flood 9.5 m)
And 7 more unnamed streams on our map
Where this road runs beside a river
- km 145–147 · beside the Kalu Ganga
Rivers and basins come from our own map of Sri Lanka’s river network. Flow direction, where shown, is worked out from the height of the land. This is orientation only, not a flood warning.
The area draining to a crossing is worked out from a terrain model (about 90 m cells) and is approximate. The rain over it is the satellite average for that same area, against its own record since 2000. Areas under about 150 km² are smaller than the satellite can see, so they show no rain.
River levels are the Irrigation Department’s own readings at its gauge, against its own thresholds. This is not a flood warning: flood warnings come from the Irrigation Department and DMC.
Landslide (NBRI)
×| Warned DS division | Level | From km |
|---|---|---|
| Ella | Watch | 13 |
| Wellawaya | Watch | 36 |
| Godakawela | Watch | 140 |
| Ratnapura | Watch | 188 |
Rain on route
×Fairly heavy rain, up to 93.8 mm in 24 h
Rain gauges near your route
12345678910111213141516171819
0193 km
Key
DryLight rainModerate rainHeavy rainVery heavy rainNo rain report
- 1 Badulla, 12.1 mm, moderate rain
- 2 Bogahamaditta (NBRI), 9.8 mm, light rain
- 3 Uduwara (NBRI), 0.8 mm, dry
- 4 Ella (NBRI), 59.2 mm, fairly heavy rain
- 5 Karandagolla (NBRI), 0 mm, dry
- 6 Wellawaya (NBRI), 50.2 mm, fairly heavy rain
- 7 Wellawaya, ≥ 8.5 mm, light rain or more (incomplete day)
- 10 Moraketiya, ≥ 12.1 mm, moderate rain or more (incomplete day)
- 11 Maduwanwela (NBRI), 0.2 mm, dry
- 12 Ranwala (NBRI), 77 mm, fairly heavy rain
- 13 Welangapola (NBRI), 93.8 mm, fairly heavy rain
- 14 Kahawatta (NBRI), 22.4 mm, moderate rain
- 15 Bungiriya (NBRI), 0 mm, dry
- 16 Kiribathgala (NBRI), 12.2 mm, moderate rain
- 17 Nivithigala (NBRI), 0 mm, dry
- 18 Norogolla (NBRI), 68.6 mm, fairly heavy rain
- 19 Ratnapura, 8.3 mm, light rain
2 gauges not reporting.
Gauge coverage: most of the route.
NBRI's warning stays in force after rain eases.
Satellite estimate
- Last 3 days: among the wettest 5% of 3-day periods since 2000 in Embilipitiya, Godakawela, Kahawatta, Nivithigala +2.
Rain outlook (computer model) · Next day: Chance of a rare wet day
- Next day: a chance of a wet day of the kind that comes about 1–2 days a month in Badulla, Hali-Ela, Ella, Wellawaya +8 (the wettest 5% of days there; several times the usual chance). (10 Nov, 05:30 to 11 Nov, 05:30)
- Next 3 days: a chance of a wet day of the kind that comes about 1–2 days a month in Badulla, Hali-Ela, Ella, Wellawaya +8 (the wettest 5% of days there; several times the usual chance). (10 Nov, 05:30 to 13 Nov, 05:30)
- "Not signalled" never means dry or safe. This is a computer model, not a warning, and it never changes NBRI's levels. Like the satellite, it reads hill-country rain low and can miss heavy local downpours.
- ECMWF ensemble forecast (open data, CC BY 4.0), run 9 Nov, 17:30, compared with each division's own satellite record.
Weather forecast (Met Dept)
×No advisory for this road
- No Department of Meteorology advisory is in force for Badulla, Moneragala and Ratnapura.
- Forecast issued 10 Nov, 05:30
- Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern province and in Trincomalee district.
- Showers or thundershowers will occur elsewhere in the island after 1.00 p.m.
- Covers Ratnapura, Badulla and Moneragala on this road: Heavy falls above 100mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.
- Showers may occur in the coastal areas of the Southern Province during the morning.
- The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
- Covers Ratnapura, Badulla and Moneragala on this road: Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Galle, Matara and Kurunegala districts during the early hours of the morning.
- Forecast for the main cities, Tuesday, 10 November 2026 (issued 9 Nov, 16:00)
- Ratnapura: Showers or thundershowers after 1.00p.m. Max 33°C, min 23°C.
- A forecast never lowers or replaces the NBRI landslide warning above.
- Forecast and advisories by the Department of Meteorology, Sri Lanka, as issued. LankaWatch is not an official service.
Rivers and catchments
×Crosses 15 named rivers · 5 basins · Walawe Ganga basin rain: Rare here (1–2 days a month) · rain upstream of Kalu Ganga: Rare here (1–2 days a month)
Mahaweli Ganga · Kirindi Oya · Malala Oya …
ThaldenaBelow Alert · River level 0.84 mDepartment’s thresholds: Alert 3, minor flood 4, major flood 5 m
River basins along this road
- km 0–22 · Mahaweli Ganga basin
- km 22–88 · Kirindi Oya basin
- km 88–101 · Malala Oya basin
- km 101–154 · Walawe Ganga basin
- km 154–193 · Kalu Ganga basin
Satellite rain over these basins
- Walawe Ganga basin · Last 3 days: Rare here (1–2 days a month)
- Kalu Ganga basin · Last 3 days: Rare here (1–2 days a month)
- Mahaweli Ganga basin · Last 3 days: Unusual here (3 days a month)
A whole-basin satellite average against that basin’s own record since 2000, not the area upstream of any one point. Satellites under-read hill rain. Not a warning.
Where this road crosses a river or stream
- km 2–10 · Badulu Oya (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · 6 crossings · flows east
126 km² drain to this point
Thaldena, an Irrigation Department gauge 18.6 km downstream (279 km² upstream · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Unusual here (3 days a month)): 10.2 mm in the 24 hours to 10 Nov, 08:30 (Moderate); 0 mm in the 3 hours to 10 Nov, 10:03.
River level 0.84 m · Below Alert · falling over about 3 hours (Department’s thresholds: Alert 3, minor flood 4, major flood 5 m) - km 14 · Nawela Oya (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · flows south-west
59 km² drain to this point - km 15–17 · Badulu Oya (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · 3 crossings · flows north
36 km² drain to this point - km 24–26 · Kirindi Oya · 4 crossings · flows east
18 km² drain to this point - km 42–47 · Kirindi Oya · 4 crossings · flows south-west
89 km² drain to this point
Wellawaya, an Irrigation Department gauge 15.6 km downstream (179 km² upstream · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Unusual here (3 days a month)): at least 8.5 mm in the 24 hours to 10 Nov, 08:30 (1 hourly reading missing); 0 mm in the 3 hours to 10 Nov, 10:02.
River level 1.65 m · Below Alert · steady over about 3 hours (Department’s thresholds: Alert 4.4, minor flood 5.4, major flood 5.9 m) - km 44 · Kunapad Ara (Kirindi Oya basin) · flows south
98 km² drain to this point - km 50 · Radapola Oya (Kirindi Oya basin) · flows south-east
16 km² drain to this point - km 52 · Galamola Ara (Kirindi Oya basin) · flows south-east
6.2 km² drain to this point - km 55–57 · Kirindi Oya · 3 crossings · flows south
0.1 km² drain to this point
Wellawaya, an Irrigation Department gauge 1.1 km upstream (179 km² upstream · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Unusual here (3 days a month)): at least 8.5 mm in the 24 hours to 10 Nov, 08:30 (1 hourly reading missing); 0 mm in the 3 hours to 10 Nov, 10:02.
River level 1.65 m · Below Alert · steady over about 3 hours (Department’s thresholds: Alert 4.4, minor flood 5.4, major flood 5.9 m) - km 59 · Dambakola Ara (Kirindi Oya basin) · flows south-east
3.1 km² drain to this point - km 60 · Kirindi Oya · flows south
233 km² drain to this point · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Unusual here (3 days a month)
Wellawaya, an Irrigation Department gauge 6.6 km upstream (179 km² upstream · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Unusual here (3 days a month)): at least 8.5 mm in the 24 hours to 10 Nov, 08:30 (1 hourly reading missing); 0 mm in the 3 hours to 10 Nov, 10:02.
River level 1.65 m · Below Alert · steady over about 3 hours (Department’s thresholds: Alert 4.4, minor flood 5.4, major flood 5.9 m) - km 75 · Kuda Oya (Kirindi Oya basin) · flows east
300 km² drain to this point · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Unusual here (3 days a month)
Kuda Oya, an Irrigation Department gauge 0.5 km upstream (299 km² upstream · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Unusual here (3 days a month)): no complete 24-hour total (2 hourly readings missing); 0 mm in the 3 hours to 10 Nov, 10:01.
River level 1.81 m · Below Alert · falling over about 3 hours (Department’s thresholds: Alert 6.9, minor flood 8.4, major flood 8.8 m) - km 95 · Katagal Ara (Malala Oya basin) · flows south
40 km² drain to this point - km 106 · Mau Ara (Walawe Ganga basin) · flows south
248 km² drain to this point · rain over that area, Last 24 hours: Rare here (1–2 days a month) - km 120 · Walawe Ganga · flows south
6.0 km² drain to this point
Moraketiya, an Irrigation Department gauge 14.6 km downstream (1,541 km² upstream · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Rare here (1–2 days a month)): at least 12.1 mm in the 24 hours to 10 Nov, 08:30 (2 hourly readings missing); 0 mm in the 3 hours to 10 Nov, 10:01.
River level 2.99 m · Below Alert · falling over about 3 hours (Department’s thresholds: Alert 3, minor flood 5, major flood 7 m) - km 125 · Karadi Ara (Walawe Ganga basin) · flows south
22 km² drain to this point - km 150 · Rakwana Ganga (Walawe Ganga basin) · flows south
16 km² drain to this point - km 188 · Dodangaha Ela (Kalu Ganga basin) · flows north-west
18 km² drain to this point - km 191 · Kalu Ganga
359 km² drain to this point · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Rare here (1–2 days a month)
Rathnapura, an Irrigation Department gauge on this river (640 km² upstream · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Rare here (1–2 days a month)): 39.5 mm in the 24 hours to 10 Nov, 08:30 (Moderate); 0 mm in the 3 hours to 10 Nov, 10:01.
River level 4.73 m · Below Alert · falling over about 3 hours (Department’s thresholds: Alert 5.2, minor flood 7.5, major flood 9.5 m)
And 3 more unnamed streams on our map
Where this road runs beside a river
- km 15–16 · beside the Badulu Oya
- km 24–27 · beside the Kirindi Oya
- km 56–57 · beside the Kirindi Oya
- km 60–61 · beside the Kirindi Oya
Rivers and basins come from our own map of Sri Lanka’s river network. Flow direction, where shown, is worked out from the height of the land. This is orientation only, not a flood warning.
The area draining to a crossing is worked out from a terrain model (about 90 m cells) and is approximate. The rain over it is the satellite average for that same area, against its own record since 2000. Areas under about 150 km² are smaller than the satellite can see, so they show no rain.
River levels are the Irrigation Department’s own readings at its gauge, against its own thresholds. This is not a flood warning: flood warnings come from the Irrigation Department and DMC.