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December 9, 2025 - Flooding in Sri Lanka
November 30, 2025
November 4, 2025
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Cyclonic Storm Ditwah made landfall on Sri Lanka’s eastern coast early on the morning of November 28, 2025, bringing with it torrential rain, dangerous flooding, landslides, and heavy destruction especially in the country’s north and east. Although maximum sustained winds never exceeded 75 mph (121 km/h), the storm killed at least 618 people and impacted more than 2 million people nationwide, according to a report published by ReliefWeb on December 8. There are still 209 people missing. Most deaths were reported in the central highland region where many landslides occurred.
In addition to the direct human tragedy, education has been interrupted with schools that escaped damage pressed into use as shelters. More than 75,000 houses were damaged or destroyed. It is reported that only 30 percent of the railroads are functional more than a week after the storm passed, and many bridges and roadways remain impassable. Flooding and wind damaged water treatment facilities and distribution networks, leaving more than 2.5 million people without safe water. Almost 4 million people lost electricity after the storm. Restoration of water and electricity is ongoing, but health risks remain.
To add to Sri Lanka’s crisis, Northeast monsoon conditions are gradually establishing over the island, according to ReliefWeb. Monsoonal rains are forecast in several regions already heavily damaged by Cyclonic Storm Ditwah. With many rivers at or above flood stage and soil already saturated, additional rain could create additional flooding and landslides and heighten the current crisis.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a false-color image of flooding in Sri Lanka on November 30, after the passage of Cyclonic Storm Ditwah. It is paired with a second false-color Terra MODIS image of the same area acquired on November 4. To toggle between the two images and compare the scene before and after the passage of the cyclone, simply click on the dates.
This type of false-color image helps separate water (blue) from vegetation (green). In addition, land with little or no vegetation appears tan while clouds look white. High, cold cloud that contains ice crystals may be tinted with bright electric blue.
In the November 4 image, many areas along the eastern coast show open land, few rivers are visible inland, and the sky in west and south is dotted with popcorn (fair weather) cloud. On November 30, however, open land in the east has been replaced by widespread flooding. In addition, many tree-like, branching forms spread across the country, each marking flooded rivers and tributaries.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 11/30/2025
Resolutions:
1km (61.3 KB), 500m (140.6 KB), 250m (175 KB)
Bands Used: 7,2,1
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
November 30, 2025 November 4, 2025
Cyclonic Storm Ditwah made landfall on Sri Lanka’s eastern coast early on the morning of November 28, 2025, bringing with it torrential rain, dangerous flooding, landslides, and heavy destruction especially in the country’s north and east. Although maximum sustained winds never exceeded 75 mph (121 km/h), the storm killed at least 618 people and impacted more than 2 million people nationwide, according to a report published by ReliefWeb on December 8. There are still 209 people missing. Most deaths were reported in the central highland region where many landslides occurred.
In addition to the direct human tragedy, education has been interrupted with schools that escaped damage pressed into use as shelters. More than 75,000 houses were damaged or destroyed. It is reported that only 30 percent of the railroads are functional more than a week after the storm passed, and many bridges and roadways remain impassable. Flooding and wind damaged water treatment facilities and distribution networks, leaving more than 2.5 million people without safe water. Almost 4 million people lost electricity after the storm. Restoration of water and electricity is ongoing, but health risks remain.
To add to Sri Lanka’s crisis, Northeast monsoon conditions are gradually establishing over the island, according to ReliefWeb. Monsoonal rains are forecast in several regions already heavily damaged by Cyclonic Storm Ditwah. With many rivers at or above flood stage and soil already saturated, additional rain could create additional flooding and landslides and heighten the current crisis.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a false-color image of flooding in Sri Lanka on November 30, after the passage of Cyclonic Storm Ditwah. It is paired with a second false-color Terra MODIS image of the same area acquired on November 4. To toggle between the two images and compare the scene before and after the passage of the cyclone, simply click on the dates.
This type of false-color image helps separate water (blue) from vegetation (green). In addition, land with little or no vegetation appears tan while clouds look white. High, cold cloud that contains ice crystals may be tinted with bright electric blue.
In the November 4 image, many areas along the eastern coast show open land, few rivers are visible inland, and the sky in west and south is dotted with popcorn (fair weather) cloud. On November 30, however, open land in the east has been replaced by widespread flooding. In addition, many tree-like, branching forms spread across the country, each marking flooded rivers and tributaries.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 11/30/2025
Resolutions:
1km (61.3 KB), 500m (140.6 KB), 250m (175 KB)
Bands Used: 7,2,1
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
