Weather by month for central Sri Lanka, the best months to go and how Sri Lanka's regions differ, scored from 10 years of climate data.
Jan, Feb
The highest month scores: comfortable temperatures, little rain and plenty of sun.
Highs 24°C · 18–19 rain days
Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec
Still good weather, just not quite the top months.
Highs 24°C to 28°C · 16–26 rain days
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
No months with tough weather, but these are only average.
Highs 28°C to 29°C · 15–18 rain days
Weather by month
Average highs and lows, rain days, sunshine and our month score out of 10.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best month: January | 24°C / 17°C | 19 days (184 mm) | 9.6 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| Best month: February | 24°C / 17°C | 18 days (138 mm) | 10.3 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| March | 26°C / 18°C | 16 days (95 mm) | 10.5 h/day | 6.8/10 |
| April | 28°C / 19°C | 20 days (151 mm) | 10.3 h/day | 6.3/10 |
| May | 28°C / 20°C | 21 days (183 mm) | 9.6 h/day | 6.0/10 |
| June | 29°C / 20°C | 16 days (93 mm) | 10.7 h/day | 4.7/10 |
| July | 29°C / 20°C | 15 days (90 mm) | 10.3 h/day | 4.4/10 |
| August | 29°C / 20°C | 16 days (110 mm) | 10.1 h/day | 4.5/10 |
| September | 28°C / 19°C | 18 days (165 mm) | 9.6 h/day | 4.8/10 |
| October | 27°C / 19°C | 24 days (299 mm) | 8.4 h/day | 6.7/10 |
| November | 25°C / 18°C | 26 days (360 mm) | 7.9 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| December | 24°C / 18°C | 24 days (279 mm) | 8.5 h/day | 7.0/10 |
Figures for central Sri Lanka; the country's best months are weighted across its cities. Best months are highlighted. How we score months
Month by month
24°C / 17°C · 19 rain days · 9.6 h sun
Expect highs of 24°C and about 19 rain days with 184mm of rain, but 9.6 hours of sun a day keeps things bright. This is one of the better months, with a score of 7 out of 10. It's a solid pick for beaches on the south and west coasts.
24°C / 17°C · 18 rain days · 10.3 h sun
Temperatures reach 24°C with 18 rain days and 138mm of rain, slightly drier than January. Sun hours rise to 10.3 a day. The month scores 7 out of 10, keeping its place among the best times to visit.
26°C / 18°C · 16 rain days · 10.5 h sun
Highs climb to 26°C and rain eases further to 16 days and 95mm, with 10.5 hours of sun daily. The score drops a little to 6.8 but conditions are still good. Heat starts to build as the dry season peaks.
28°C / 19°C · 20 rain days · 10.3 h sun
April is warmer still, with highs of 27.5°C. Rain picks back up to nearly 20 days and 151mm as the seasons start to shift. The score is 6.3, still rated good, though humidity rises.
28°C / 20°C · 21 rain days · 9.6 h sun
Highs reach 28°C, the hottest so far, with 20.6 rain days and 183mm of rain. Sun hours dip to 9.6 as the southwest monsoon approaches. The score falls to 6, the last month in the good range before conditions get tougher.
29°C / 20°C · 16 rain days · 10.7 h sun
June brings the southwest monsoon to the west and south coasts, though rain days actually drop to 15.7 and rainfall to 93mm, spread over heavier bursts. Highs hit 28.7°C with strong sun at 10.7 hours a day. The score falls to 4.7, an ok rating, because conditions can be wet and humid on the affected coasts.
29°C / 20°C · 15 rain days · 10.3 h sun
July is the hottest month on paper at 29.1°C, with 15.4 rain days and 90mm of rain. Sun hours stay high at 10.3. The score is the lowest of the year at 4.4, still ok, reflecting the ongoing monsoon on the southwest side of the island.
29°C / 20°C · 16 rain days · 10.1 h sun
Highs stay near 29°C with 15.5 rain days and 110mm of rain. Sun hours hold at 10.1. The score ticks up slightly to 4.5, still an ok rating as the southwest monsoon continues.
28°C / 19°C · 18 rain days · 9.6 h sun
Temperatures ease to 28.4°C, with rain days rising to 18.1 and rainfall to 165mm as the monsoon starts to shift. Sun hours drop to 9.6. The score is 4.8, ok, marking a transition month between the dry and wet seasons.
27°C / 19°C · 24 rain days · 8.4 h sun
October sees a sharp jump in rain: 24.2 rain days and 299mm, with sun hours falling to 8.4 as the northeast monsoon builds. Highs are 26.7°C. Despite the wetter weather, the score rises to 6.7, a good rating, since this is the inter-monsoon period across much of the island.
25°C / 18°C · 26 rain days · 7.9 h sun
November is the wettest month, with 26 rain days and 360mm of rain, and sun hours at just 7.9 a day. Highs sit at 24.9°C. Even so, it scores 7, good, likely reflecting calmer conditions on the east coast as the west and south wind down.
24°C / 18°C · 24 rain days · 8.5 h sun
Rain stays heavy with 24 rain days and 279mm, though sun hours recover slightly to 8.5. Highs are 24.2°C. The month scores 7, good, and is a popular time for east coast travel and the holiday season.
By trip type
City sightseeing
January and February are the best months for city trips. Highs sit around 23.6–24.4°C, rain drops to 138–184mm, and sun hours rise to 9.6–10.3, making it comfortable to walk around towns during the day.
Hiking & nature
December and January suit hiking best. Rain days fall to 19.4–24, temperatures stay mild with highs near 23.6–24.2°C, and lows of 16.9–17.9°C keep trails cooler than the rest of the year.
Keep planning
FAQ
Yes. January is one of the best months, with a score of 7 out of 10. Expect a high of 23.6°C, a low of 16.9°C, and 9.6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain still falls on about 19.4 days, with 184mm total, but this is one of the drier, sunnier stretches of the year.
It's an ok time, scoring 4.5 out of 10. Temperatures are warm, with a high of 29°C and a low of 19.6°C, and sun hours sit at 10.1 a day. Rain days average 15.5 with 110mm of rain, so showers are less frequent than later in the year, but humidity and heat are at their peak.
November scores 7 out of 10, rated good, but it is also one of the wettest months. Rain falls on about 26 days with 360mm total, and sunshine drops to 7.9 hours a day. The high is 24.9°C and the low is 18.4°C, so it stays warm even with the heavier rain.
October is the rainiest month, with 299mm of rain spread over about 24.2 days. Sunshine falls to 8.4 hours a day, the lowest along with November. Despite the rain, October still scores 6.7 out of 10, rated good, since temperatures stay warm with a high of 26.7°C.
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