Winds are expected to be fairly strong, reaching speeds of 30 to 40 km/h at times, particularly over the Western slopes of the central hills, and in the Northern, North-central, North-western, and Southern provinces, including Trincomalee district. The public is advised to take necessary precautions to reduce the risk of damage from temporary strong winds and lightning during thundershowers. Landslide early warnings have been issued by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) for Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya, and Ratnapura districts, valid from 9:00 a.m. on May 23, 2026, to 9:00 a.m. on May 24, 2026. LEVEL III (RED) warnings are in effect for the Divisional Secretary Divisions and nearby areas of Deraniyagala, Ruwanwella, and Dehiowita in Kegalle, as well as Ratnapura, Ayagama, Kuruwita, and Eheliyagoda in Ratnapura. LEVEL II (AMBER) warnings apply to the Divisional Secretary Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in Colombo, Attanagalla in Gampaha, Palindanuwara, Ingiriya, Bulathsinhala, and Horana in Kalutara, Yatiyanthota in Kegalle, and Pelmadulla, Kiriella, Kalawana, Nivithigala, and Elapatha in Ratnapura. LEVEL I (YELLOW) warnings are issued for Divulapitiya and Mirigama in Gampaha, Mathugama and Agalawatta in Kalutara, Bulathkohupitiya in Kegalle, and Ambagamuwa in Nuwara Eliya. On May 23, 2026, at 5:30 a.m., the weather forecast indicated that the South-West monsoon was gradually setting in. Showers or thundershowers would occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, and North-western provinces, as well as in Anuradhapura, Galle, Matara, Kandy, and Nuwara Eliya districts. Heavy rainfall of around 100 mm is possible in certain areas of the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts. After 1:00 p.m., showers or thundershowers may also occur in a few locations in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts.
