Sri Lanka Weather
“Don’t let the rain ruin your vacation!”Weather in Sri Lanka
The following information is based on weather data from the Department of Meteorology in Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka experiences
two major monsoon seasons and two inter-monsoon seasons.
Pleasant and comfortable weather over many parts of the island could be experienced due to the dry and cold wind blowing from the Indian land mass which establish comparatively cool, but dry weather. Cloud-free skies provide days full of sunshine and pleasant and cool nights.
This is the time of the year when the eastern coast of Sri Lanka experiences heavy rain and rough seas. It would be best if you avoided beaches in the eastern coast area like Trinco, Arugam Bay, and Pasikudah.
During this period, the highest rainfall figures are recorded in the North, Eastern slopes of the hill country and the Eastern slopes of the Knuckles/Rangala range as shown in dark blue color on the map.
December will be the rainiest month in this season and the rain will gradually fade away from the eastern coast by February.
This is a dry and hot period in most parts of the island.
Rain will shift to western and southwestern area during this inter-monsoon period. Mornings will be mostly full of sunshine although afternoon or evening could experience thunderstorms mainly in western and southwestern part of the island.
You should expect thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening in places like Negombo, Colombo, Bentota, Galle, Unawatuna, Ratnapura, Kitulgala etc.
This five-month-long monsoon is the longest rainy season on the island.
Windy weather during this monsoon eases off the warmth that prevailed during the first Inter monsoon season from March to April.
May, the hottest month on the island, precedes the summer monsoon rains which are experienced at any time of the day and night, sometimes intermittently mainly in the Southwestern part of the country.
As this is a five-month-long monsoon season, you must check monthly rainfall maps under each month given on ‘the best time to visit’ page to understand the weather conditions of the month you expect to visit Sri Lanka.
Generally, the southwestern part of Sri Lanka and mainly beaches like Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, Galle, and Mirissa should be avoided during this period.
The second Intermonsoon period of October to November is the period with the most evenly balanced distribution of rainfall over Sri Lanka. During this period the whole country experiences strong winds with wide spread rain, sometimes leading to floods and landslides. The thunderstorm-type of rain, particularly during the afternoon or evening, is the typical climate during this season.
Annual Rainfall Averages
Rainfall (mm)| City | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negombo | 45 | 46 | 87 | 179 | 270 | 239 | 190 | 175 | 223 | 336 | 279 | 139 |
| Colombo | 62 | 61 | 88 | 183 | 295 | 258 | 198 | 179 | 231 | 350 | 314 | 168 |
| Bentota | 92 | 75 | 93 | 202 | 346 | 343 | 304 | 276 | 296 | 370 | 344 | 190 |
| Galle | 76 | 59 | 78 | 161 | 291 | 258 | 226 | 218 | 246 | 279 | 260 | 155 |
| Mirissa | 111 | 87 | 111 | 193 | 237 | 202 | 170 | 170 | 203 | 268 | 305 | 204 |
| Kirinda/Tangalle | 88 | 71 | 106 | 180 | 175 | 132 | 112 | 119 | 153 | 229 | 284 | 185 |
| Hambantota | 68 | 47 | 67 | 118 | 114 | 76 | 57 | 64 | 97 | 155 | 237 | 157 |
| Udawalawa | 196 | 134 | 151 | 265 | 165 | 99 | 74 | 85 | 131 | 257 | 366 | 243 |
| Ella | 113 | 81 | 99 | 192 | 121 | 50 | 47 | 62 | 101 | 272 | 315 | 199 |
| Nuwara Eliya | 130 | 108 | 120 | 245 | 217 | 179 | 186 | 193 | 232 | 374 | 331 | 235 |
| Kandy | 124 | 95 | 91 | 173 | 128 | 87 | 90 | 96 | 123 | 275 | 276 | 215 |
| Dambulla | 140 | 92 | 81 | 156 | 113 | 46 | 56 | 69 | 90 | 264 | 284 | 230 |
| Sigiriya/Habarana | 103 | 72 | 52 | 95 | 60 | 21 | 22 | 30 | 44 | 174 | 226 | 186 |
| Anuradhapura | 79 | 56 | 55 | 128 | 90 | 44 | 46 | 63 | 79 | 215 | 237 | 163 |
| Polonnaruwa | 114 | 75 | 54 | 92 | 64 | 18 | 25 | 34 | 53 | 182 | 238 | 207 |
| Arugam Bay | 170 | 100 | 77 | 98 | 51 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 35 | 172 | 274 | 285 |
| Trincomalee | 136 | 80 | 47 | 63 | 50 | 18 | 31 | 50 | 69 | 196 | 303 | 275 |
| Wilpatu | 68 | 45 | 56 | 127 | 93 | 46 | 41 | 52 | 73 | 210 | 235 | 146 |
| Kalpitiya | 53 | 35 | 46 | 112 | 100 | 49 | 28 | 34 | 66 | 206 | 253 | 147 |
| Total | 1968 | 1419 | 1559 | 2962 | 2980 | 2188 | 1926 | 1995 | 2545 | 4844 | 5433 | 3799 |
| 3rd Lowest | Lowest Rainfall | 2nd Lowest | 2nd Highest | Highest Rainfall | 3rd Highest | |||||||
| City | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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