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When to go · Climate guide
Sri Lankawhen to go
Sri Lanka's national averages run from 29 °C in December to 32 °C in April, with rainfall between 70 mm in February and 374 mm in November and 4.5–7.8 hours of sun a day. Against the default preferences (under 2.7 mm of rain a day, at least 6 hours of sun), the strongest months are February, March and August. Its 25 regions span 26–32 °C in annual mean temperature, so the national figure hides a good deal.
- Capital
- Colombo
- Region
- Asia
- TZ
- America/Sao_Paulo
- Area
- 65,763 km²
Best months to visit
When Sri Lanka shines
Climate at a glance · 10-year ERA5
A decade of weather, in one page
— daytime high— overnight low▬ typical range
View data table
| Month | Average daytime high (°C) | Average overnight low (°C) | Typical low | Typical high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28.8 | 21.9 | 19.5 | 30.4 |
| February | 30.0 | 22.3 | 20.2 | 31.6 |
| March | 31.5 | 23.2 | 21.7 | 33.4 |
| April | 32.3 | 24.4 | 23.2 | 33.9 |
| May | 31.5 | 25.2 | 24.0 | 33.6 |
| June | 31.6 | 25.4 | 24.4 | 32.9 |
| July | 31.7 | 25.2 | 24.4 | 33.3 |
| August | 31.5 | 24.9 | 24.1 | 33.5 |
| September | 31.2 | 24.6 | 23.4 | 33.0 |
| October | 30.3 | 23.9 | 23.0 | 32.5 |
| November | 29.2 | 23.2 | 21.9 | 30.9 |
| December | 28.7 | 22.6 | 21.0 | 30.3 |
View data table
| Month | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|
| January | 127 |
| February | 70 |
| March | 82 |
| April | 133 |
| May | 200 |
| June | 84 |
| July | 90 |
| August | 101 |
| September | 121 |
| October | 267 |
| November | 374 |
| December | 186 |
View data table
| Month | Sunshine hours (hr / day) |
|---|---|
| January | 6.2 |
| February | 7.4 |
| March | 7.8 |
| April | 7.4 |
| May | 5.9 |
| June | 6.4 |
| July | 6.2 |
| August | 6.3 |
| September | 6.3 |
| October | 5.5 |
| November | 4.5 |
| December | 5.4 |
— average▬ typical range
View data table
| Month | Average wind speed (km/h) | Typical low | Typical high |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.8 | 6.3 | 12.4 |
| February | 9.8 | 6.2 | 13.6 |
| March | 7.6 | 5.2 | 10.9 |
| April | 7.0 | 4.8 | 11.7 |
| May | 12.1 | 4.8 | 20.3 |
| June | 15.8 | 11.7 | 19.0 |
| July | 15.0 | 9.3 | 20.3 |
| August | 14.6 | 9.4 | 19.4 |
| September | 13.8 | 7.1 | 17.8 |
| October | 9.2 | 4.5 | 16.1 |
| November | 7.6 | 4.5 | 11.9 |
| December | 9.0 | 5.2 | 12.3 |
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Snow depth
Snow depth for Sri Lanka is part of the Premium map and its district-level detail. See what Premium includes.
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Sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature for Sri Lanka is part of the Premium map and its district-level detail. See what Premium includes.
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Heat index
Heat index for Sri Lanka is part of the Premium map and its district-level detail. See what Premium includes.
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Humidity
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What’s open · year round
Things to do in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's list is seasonal end to end: something below is out of season in every month of the year, and nothing below runs the whole year.
- ClosedBlue whales off Mirissa
Closed May–October · at its best December–March
Sources: nomadicboys.com, journalofsrilanka.com
- ClosedWhale watching off Trincomalee
Closed October–April · at its best May–July
Sources: journalofsrilanka.com, wwhandbook.iwc.int
Opening seasons are checked by hand against the operators and parks themselves, not derived from the climate figures on this page. Last reviewed 2026-08-28. Dates move — confirm before you book.
25 regions
Sri Lanka, taken apart
- Ampara28–34 °C yr
- Anuradhapura29–34 °C yr
- Badulla27–32 °C yr
- Batticaloa28–34 °C yr
- Colombo29–33 °C yr
- Galle28–30 °C yr
- Gampaha29–33 °C yr
- Hambantota29–32 °C yr
- Jaffna27–31 °C yr
- Kalutara29–31 °C yr
- Kandy26–30 °C yr
- Kegalle28–32 °C yr
- Kilinochchi28–32 °C yr
- Kurunegala30–34 °C yr
- Mannar29–33 °C yr
- Matale28–33 °C yr
- Matara29–31 °C yr
- Monaragala29–34 °C yr
- Mullaitivu28–33 °C yr
- Nuwara Eliya25–28 °C yr
- Polonnaruwa29–34 °C yr
- Puttalam30–33 °C yr
- Ratnapura28–30 °C yr
- Trincomalee28–34 °C yr
- Vavuniya29–35 °C yr
Safety · 4 governments
What the governments say about Sri Lanka
Combined advisory · most-cautious-wins
Exercise increased caution
Highest level across 4 governments · Advisory last changed
See breakdown by countryHide breakdown
DE
Level 1Exercise normal precautions
Exercise normal precautions
NL
Level 2Exercise increased caution
Exercise increased caution
US
Level 2Exercise increased caution
Exercise increased caution
Month by month
A year in Sri Lanka, in order
- JanJanuary28.8°C · 127 mm · 6.2 hr/day
Around 29 °C with 127 mm of rain and 6.2 hours of sun a day.
Around 29 °C with 127 mm of rain and 6.2 hours of sun a day.
- FebFebruary30.0°C · 70 mm · 7.4 hr/day
Around 30 °C with 70 mm of rain and 7.4 hours of sun a day.
Around 30 °C with 70 mm of rain and 7.4 hours of sun a day.
- MarMarch31.5°C · 82 mm · 7.8 hr/day
Around 32 °C with 82 mm of rain and 7.8 hours of sun a day.
Around 32 °C with 82 mm of rain and 7.8 hours of sun a day.
- AprApril32.3°C · 133 mm · 7.4 hr/day
Around 32 °C with 133 mm of rain and 7.4 hours of sun a day.
Around 32 °C with 133 mm of rain and 7.4 hours of sun a day.
- MayMay31.5°C · 200 mm · 5.9 hr/day
Around 32 °C with 199 mm of rain and 5.9 hours of sun a day.
Around 32 °C with 199 mm of rain and 5.9 hours of sun a day.
- JunJune31.6°C · 84 mm · 6.4 hr/day
Around 32 °C with 84 mm of rain and 6.4 hours of sun a day.
Around 32 °C with 84 mm of rain and 6.4 hours of sun a day.
- JulJuly31.7°C · 90 mm · 6.2 hr/day
Around 32 °C with 90 mm of rain and 6.2 hours of sun a day.
Around 32 °C with 90 mm of rain and 6.2 hours of sun a day.
- AugAugust31.5°C · 101 mm · 6.3 hr/day
Around 31 °C with 101 mm of rain and 6.3 hours of sun a day.
Around 31 °C with 101 mm of rain and 6.3 hours of sun a day.
- SepSeptember31.2°C · 121 mm · 6.3 hr/day
Around 31 °C with 121 mm of rain and 6.3 hours of sun a day.
Around 31 °C with 121 mm of rain and 6.3 hours of sun a day.
- OctOctober30.3°C · 267 mm · 5.5 hr/day
Around 30 °C with 267 mm of rain and 5.5 hours of sun a day.
Around 30 °C with 267 mm of rain and 5.5 hours of sun a day.
- NovNovember29.2°C · 374 mm · 4.5 hr/day
Around 29 °C with 374 mm of rain and 4.5 hours of sun a day.
Around 29 °C with 374 mm of rain and 4.5 hours of sun a day.
- DecDecember28.7°C · 186 mm · 5.4 hr/day
Around 29 °C with 186 mm of rain and 5.4 hours of sun a day.
Around 29 °C with 186 mm of rain and 5.4 hours of sun a day.
Same climate · neighbouring countries
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