Watch on 70 km between Nuwara Eliya and Gampola
Around Kothmale and Pussellawa, km 8–79.
You reach it about Tue 09:15, 20 min after leaving, and are through it by Tue 11:30.
NBRI’s bulletin is valid until Tue 20:00, so it covers that time.
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.
- Nuwara Eliya
Not listedkm 0–8 - Kothmale to Gampola
Watchkm 8–79 - Madawala to Dambulla
Not listedkm 79–158
Alert on 34 km between Ragala and Walapane
Around Ragala and Walapane, km 13–48.
Also: Watch on 17 km near Adhikarigama
You reach it about Tue 09:25, 30 min after leaving, and are through it by Tue 10:35.
NBRI’s bulletin is valid until Tue 20:00, so it covers that time.
Since the rainfall within the past 24 hours has exceeded 100 mm, if the rains continue, be on alert on the possibility of landslides, slope failures, rock falls, cut failures and ground subsidence, being ready to evacuate to a safe location if the need arises.
- Nuwara Eliya
Not listedkm 0–13 - Ragala to Walapane
Alertkm 13–48 - Adhikarigama
Watchkm 48–65 - Teldeniya to Dambulla
Not listedkm 65–175
Alert on 16 km near Padiyapelella
Around Padiyapelella, km 13–26, km 30–37.
Also: Watch on 31 km between Padiyapelella and Galagedara
You reach it about Tue 09:25, 30 min after leaving, and are through it by Tue 10:40.
NBRI’s bulletin is valid until Tue 20:00, so it covers that time.
Since the rainfall within the past 24 hours has exceeded 100 mm, if the rains continue, be on alert on the possibility of landslides, slope failures, rock falls, cut failures and ground subsidence, being ready to evacuate to a safe location if the need arises.
- Nuwara Eliya
Not listedkm 0–13 - near Padiyapelella
Alert, Watchkm 13–31 - Padiyapelella
Alertkm 31–36 - Rikillagaskada to Hanguranketha
Watchkm 36–53 - Kandy to Hedeniya
Not listedkm 53–94 - Galagedara
Watchkm 94–101 - Mawathagama to Dambulla
Not listedkm 101–172
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 Nuwara Eliya–Dambulla road
The fastest road we know from Nuwara Eliya to Dambulla is 158 km, about 4 h 30 min, via Gampola, Madawala.
Main roads on it: Nuwara Eliya Road (51 km), Kandy-Jaffna Road (45 km), Ukuwela Road (8 km).
We show 3 roads between them, fastest first.
DS divisions on this road
It passes through 15 DS divisions in 3 districts, in travel order:
- Nuwara Eliya
- Kothmale East
- Udapalatha
- Udunuwara
- Kandy Four Gravets & Gangawata Korale
- Yatinuwara
- Harispattuwa
- Pathadumbara
- Kundasale
- Ukuwela
- Matale
- Yatawatta
- Pallepola
- Naula
- Dambulla
Past NBRI bulletins
Most often listed on this road, in the 41 NBRI bulletins we have passed on since Sun 20 Sept: Yatinuwara (27), Udunuwara (20), Kothmale East (14).
A record of past bulletins, not a forecast. Not being listed doesn’t mean safe.
Steep terrain
About 8 km of it runs through steep terrain (slopes over 30° beside the road). The longest stretch is near Kothmale.
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, 03:30. Checked Tue 10 Nov, 09:00.
Landslide (NBRI)
×| Warned DS division | Level | From km |
|---|---|---|
| Kothmale East | Watch | 8 |
| Udapalatha | Watch | 36 |
| Udunuwara | Watch | 59 |
| Yatinuwara | Watch | 75 |
Rain on route
×Fairly heavy rain, up to 55.5 mm in 24 h
Rain gauges near your route
Key
- 1 Nuwara Eliya, 9.4 mm, light rain
- 8 Peradeniya, 16 mm, moderate rain
- 10 Katugastota, 1.2 mm, light rain
- 13 Ukuwela, 6.7 mm, light rain
- 16 Bowatenna, 55.5 mm, fairly heavy rain
12 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 Nuwara Eliya, Kothmale East, Udapalatha, Udunuwara +6.
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 Nuwara Eliya, Kothmale East, Udapalatha, Udunuwara +11 (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 Nuwara Eliya, Kothmale East, Udapalatha, Udunuwara +11 (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 Nuwara Eliya, Kandy and Matale.
- 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 Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya 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 Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya 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)
- Nuwara Eliya: Showers or thundershowers after 1.00p.m. Max 22°C, min 13°C.
- Kandy: Showers or thundershowers after 1.00p.m. Max 30°C, min 24°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 10 named rivers · 2 basins · rain upstream of Mahaweli Ganga: Rare here (1–2 days a month)
Mahaweli Ganga · Kala Oya
River basins along this road
- km 0–143 · Mahaweli Ganga basin
- km 143–158 · Kala Oya basin
Satellite rain over these basins
- 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 10 · Puna Oya (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · flows west
6.8 km² drain to this point - km 35 · Gamburu Oya (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · flows south-west
0.3 km² drain to this point - km 48 · Atabaga Oya (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · 2 crossings · flows south
44 km² drain to this point - km 54 · Mahaweli Ganga · flows north-east
900 km² drain to this point · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Rare here (1–2 days a month)
Peradeniya, an Irrigation Department gauge 15.4 km downstream (1,143 km² upstream · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Rare here (1–2 days a month)): 16 mm in the 24 hours to 10 Nov, 08:30 (Moderate); 0 mm in the 3 hours to 10 Nov, 09:01.
River level 3.55 m · Below Alert · falling over about 3 hours (Department’s thresholds: Alert 5, minor flood 7, major flood 9 m) - km 67–69 · Geli Oya (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · 2 crossings · flows north-east
12 km² drain to this point - km 69 · Mada Ela (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · flows north-west
20 km² drain to this point - km 73–80 · Mahaweli Ganga · 7 crossings · flows north-west
1,068 km² drain to this point · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Rare here (1–2 days a month)
Peradeniya, an Irrigation Department gauge 2.9 km downstream (1,143 km² upstream · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Rare here (1–2 days a month)): 16 mm in the 24 hours to 10 Nov, 08:30 (Moderate); 0 mm in the 3 hours to 10 Nov, 09:01.
River level 3.55 m · Below Alert · falling over about 3 hours (Department’s thresholds: Alert 5, minor flood 7, major flood 9 m) - km 85–86 · Mahaweli Ganga · 2 crossings · flows north
1,194 km² drain to this point · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Rare here (1–2 days a month)
Peradeniya, an Irrigation Department gauge 9.4 km upstream (1,143 km² upstream · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Rare here (1–2 days a month)): 16 mm in the 24 hours to 10 Nov, 08:30 (Moderate); 0 mm in the 3 hours to 10 Nov, 09:01.
River level 3.55 m · Below Alert · falling over about 3 hours (Department’s thresholds: Alert 5, minor flood 7, major flood 9 m) - km 95 · Sudu Ganga (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · flows south-west
1.0 km² drain to this point - km 97 · Dan Oya (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · flows south
4.4 km² drain to this point - km 104 · Sudu Ganga (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · flows north
17 km² drain to this point - km 129 · Heenganga Ela (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · flows east
10 km² drain to this point - km 136 · Nalanda Oya (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · flows north-east
131 km² drain to this point
And 8 more unnamed streams on our map
Where this road runs beside a river
- km 85–86 · beside the Mahaweli 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Walapane | Alert | 13 |
| Mathurata | Watch | 48 |
| Hanguranketha | Watch | 50 |
Rain on route
×Light rain, up to 9.4 mm in 24 h
Rain gauges near your route
Key
- 1 Nuwara Eliya, 9.4 mm, light rain
- 9 Victoria, 0 mm, dry
- 17 Ukuwela, 6.7 mm, light rain
18 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 Nuwara Eliya, Walapane, Mathurata, Hanguranketha +4.
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 Nuwara Eliya, Walapane, Mathurata, Hanguranketha +9 (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 Nuwara Eliya, Walapane, Mathurata, Hanguranketha +9 (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 Nuwara Eliya, Kandy and Matale.
- 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 Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya 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 Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya 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)
- Nuwara Eliya: Showers or thundershowers after 1.00p.m. Max 22°C, min 13°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 7 named rivers · 2 basins
Mahaweli Ganga · Kala Oya
River basins along this road
- km 0–155 · Mahaweli Ganga basin
- km 155–175 · Kala Oya basin
Satellite rain over these basins
- 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 87 · Huliu Ganga (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · 2 crossings · flows south
131 km² drain to this point - km 102 · Sudu Ganga (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · flows south-west
1.0 km² drain to this point - km 103 · Dan Oya (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · flows south
4.4 km² drain to this point - km 111 · Sudu Ganga (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · flows north
17 km² drain to this point - km 140–141 · Dewilla Oya / Polwatta Oya / Nalanda Oya (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · 2 crossings · flows north-east
64 km² drain to this point - km 142 · Alakala Ela (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · flows north
2.9 km² drain to this point - km 164 · Mala Oya (Kala Oya basin) · flows north-west
39 km² drain to this point - km 166 · Welamitiya Oya (Kala Oya basin) · flows west
17 km² drain to this point
And 15 more unnamed streams on our map
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Walapane | Alert | 13 |
| Mathurata | Watch | 25 |
| Hanguranketha | Watch | 44 |
| Thumpane | Watch | 94 |
Rain on route
×Moderate rain, up to 18.4 mm in 24 h
Rain gauges near your route
Key
- 1 Nuwara Eliya, 9.4 mm, light rain
- 14 Katugastota, 1.2 mm, light rain
- 20 Kurunegala, 18.4 mm, moderate rain
21 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 Nuwara Eliya, Walapane, Mathurata, Hanguranketha +7.
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 Nuwara Eliya, Walapane, Mathurata, Hanguranketha +10 (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 Nuwara Eliya, Walapane, Mathurata, Hanguranketha +10 (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 Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Kurunegala and Matale.
- 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 Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya 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 Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya and Kurunegala 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)
- Nuwara Eliya: Showers or thundershowers after 1.00p.m. Max 22°C, min 13°C.
- Kandy: Showers or thundershowers after 1.00p.m. Max 30°C, min 24°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 9 named rivers · 3 basins · rain upstream of Mahaweli Ganga: Rare here (1–2 days a month)
Mahaweli Ganga · Deduru Oya · Kala Oya
River basins along this road
- km 0–95 · Mahaweli Ganga basin
- km 95–150 · Deduru Oya basin
- km 150–172 · Kala Oya basin
Satellite rain over these basins
- Mahaweli Ganga basin · Last 3 days: Unusual here (3 days a month)
- Deduru Oya 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 53 · Maha Oya (Mahaweli Ganga basin) · flows north
108 km² drain to this point - km 84 · Mahaweli Ganga · flows north
1,194 km² drain to this point · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Rare here (1–2 days a month)
Peradeniya, an Irrigation Department gauge 9.7 km upstream (1,143 km² upstream · rain over that area, Last 3 days: Rare here (1–2 days a month)): 16 mm in the 24 hours to 10 Nov, 08:30 (Moderate); 0 mm in the 3 hours to 10 Nov, 09:01.
River level 3.55 m · Below Alert · falling over about 3 hours (Department’s thresholds: Alert 5, minor flood 7, major flood 9 m) - km 97–102 · Dik Oya (Deduru Oya basin) · 4 crossings · flows north-west
2.2 km² drain to this point - km 101 · Narankaha Ela (Deduru Oya basin) · flows south-west
16 km² drain to this point - km 108 · Kaspatu Oya (Deduru Oya basin) · flows north-west
41 km² drain to this point - km 115–117 · Kaspatu Oya (Deduru Oya basin) · 3 crossings · flows north-west
104 km² drain to this point - km 124 · Deduru Oya · flows north-west
7.5 km² drain to this point - km 142 · Kimbulwana Oya (Deduru Oya basin) · flows north-west
44 km² drain to this point - km 161 · Mala Oya (Kala Oya basin) · flows north-west
39 km² drain to this point - km 163 · Welamitiya Oya (Kala Oya basin) · flows west
17 km² drain to this point
And 11 more unnamed streams on our map
Where this road runs beside a river
- km 97–98 · beside the Dik Oya
- km 115–116 · beside the Kaspatu Oya
- km 116–117 · beside the Kaspatu 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.