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Climate - Sri Lanka


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Sri Lanka

Map - Sri Lanka

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Index


  • Introduction
  • North-west - Jaffna, Mannar
  • South-west coast - Colombo
  • East coast - Trincomalee, Batticaloa
  • South-east coast - Hambantota
  • Sea temperature
  • The interior - Anuradhapura, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
  • Cyclones

Introduction


Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, is a island country located south-east of India, just north of the Equator, and has a tropical climate, with hot, humid weather all year round.
Even though the country is small, there are significant differences, especially as regards to the distribution of the rainfall, whose pattern is determined by the monsoon regime, but also by the two zenith passages of the sun (that is, when it shines directly overhead in the sky at mid-day), which occur in early April and early September. Also the proximity of the extreme south of India, which partly protects the north-west, and the inland elevations, which are higher in the south-central part of the island, influence the intensity and the distribution of rainfall in the different areas: the rainiest areas are the south-western mountain slope and the coastal area where Colombo is located, while the driest ones are the north-west coast (see Jaffna, Mannar) and the south-east coast (see Hambantota).
The highest mountain is Pidurutalagala (or Mount Pedro), 2,524 meters (8,280 feet) high.
Here is a summary of the times of the year that determine the climate of Sri Lanka.
- From mid-December to February: it is the period of the north-east monsoon, which brings rainfall especially on the eastern side (see Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Hambantota). The rains gradually decrease as the sea becomes slightly cooler. Temperatures are the lowest of the year, and sometimes nights are quite cool (below 20 °C or 68 °F).
- From March to mid-May: this is the first intermonsonic period, usually dry and gradually hotter (especially in the north-central part of the country), in which, however, rains occur in the form of downpours or thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening, which are frequent and abundant only on the western side (see Colombo) and in the mountainous interior areas (see Kandy, Nuwara Eliya).
- From mid-May to September: it is the period of the southwest monsoon, which, however, releases the bulk of the rains in India, while in Sri Lanka, it brings heavy rainfall only on the southwest coast (see Colombo) and in the mountainous area of the interior, especially in the first part (mid-May - mid June) and a little less in the last (September). In this period, the north-west (see Jaffna, Mannar) is the driest area because it is protected by the south-east of India. However, during this period, the sea is rough on the western side, and there may be dangerous currents, except for the beaches partially sheltered by a coral reef (see the beaches of Unawatuna and Hikkaduwa).
- From October to mid-December: this is the second intermonsonic period, in which, unlike in the first, there are rains spread throughout the country, since tropical depressions often form.

As a result, on the eastern side it rains a lot only from October to February, in the north-west it rains a lot only from October to December, on the western side it rains mainly from April to June and from September to November, while in the mountainous areas it rains mainly from April to December.

On average, the amount of sunshine in Sri Lanka is never low on the coasts, in fact, there are a few hours of sunshine a day even in the rainy months, however, it is better in the dry season, when there are 8/9 hours of sunshine per day. In total, 2,600 hours of sunshine per year are exceeded even in the rainiest part of the coast (see Colombo). On the contrary, in inland mountainous areas, cloudiness is more common, and the sun is rarely seen from May to December.

The sea is warm all year round.

North-west



Climate of the northwest

In the north-west (see Jaffna, Mannar), which as we have mentioned is partially protected by neighbouring India, between 1,000 and 1,300 millimeters (40 to 50 inches) of rain fall per year, and the rains are only abundant between October and December. Temperatures are high throughout the year, but compared to the south, there's a greater difference between the winter months and the pre-monsoon period, from March to May, when the temperature rises, also due to the influence of the Indian continental mass.

Jaffna

In Jaffna, located in the north-western tip of the country, the weather is hot all year round. Being that the summer monsoon is very weak, the heat remains intense even in summer. Here are the average temperatures.
Jaffna - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January232825.8738378.4
February233026.2738679.2
March233227.6748981.7
April263329.5789285.1
May273330.1809286.2
June273329.8809185.6
July263329.4799184.9
August263229.2799084.5
September263228.9789084
October253127.8768782
November242926.6758579.9
December242826748378.7
Year24.931.32876.888.382.5

In Jaffna, 1,300 mm (51 inches) of rain fall per year, but the rains are really abundant only from October to December. Here is the average rainfall.
Jaffna - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January702.74
February351.42
March200.82
April451.84
May451.83
June2512
July401.63
August5023
September7535
October2509.811
November3551415
December29511.613
Year130551.467

In the north-west, the sun often shines from January to May, while in the rest of the year, the hours of sunshine decrease a little, both in the summer (where it rarely rains, but there's still some cloudiness due to the south-west monsoon) and in the rainy period of the end of the year. Here are the average sunshine hours in Jaffna.
Jaffna - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January8250
February9250
March9.5290
April9265
May8240
June6.5195
July6.5195
August7215
September7205
October6.5205
November6185
December6.5205
Year7.42695

Mannar

In Mannar, a little further to the south, the climate is similar to that of Jaffna. Here are the average temperatures.
Mannar - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January242926.5758479.7
February243027758680.6
March243228759082.4
April263329.5799185.1
May273229.5819085.1
June273129818884.2
July273129818884.2
August263128.5798883.3
September263128.5798883.3
October253128778882.4
November253027.5778681.5
December242926.5758479.7
Year25.430.828.0577.887.582.5

In Mannar, rainfall even drops below 1,000 mm (40 in) per year. However, in addition to the rainy season at the end of the year, there is a certain increase in rainfall in April, the hottest month before the southwest monsoon arrives. Here is the average precipitation.
Mannar - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January401.64
February602.43
March451.83
April803.16
May451.83
June50.21
July120.51
August120.51
September401.62
October1656.510
November2359.314
December2208.712
Year96537.960

Further south, in Puttalam and Kalpitiya, the climate is similar, but the increase in rainfall in April and May is evident, so much so that in April, 175 mm (7 in) of rain fall. Here is the average rainfall in Puttalam.
Puttalam - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January552.27
February401.65
March652.64
April1756.95
May953.74
June401.62
July150.64
August150.65
September652.66
October2409.412
November2509.816
December1405.516
Year11954786

South-west coast



Climate of the south-west coast

The south-western coast, from Negombo to Tangalle, being to the west of the mountains and not being protected by India, is decidedly more rainy than the north-western one, and does not experience a real dry season, even though the rains decrease from January to March, and to a lesser extent from June to August. In this part of the coast, there are beaches like Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna and Mirissa.

Colombo

The legislative capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, is located (together with the neighboring administrative capital, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte) in the rainiest part of the country, namely the south-western side. Here, 2,500 mm (99 in) of rain fall per year, with two maxima, in April-May and October-November, when precipitation exceeds 240 mm (9.5 in) per month. Between the two rainy periods, there is a relative decrease in July and August, with about 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain per month, while the driest months, with less than 100 mm (4 in) per month, are January and February. Here is the average precipitation.
Colombo - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January602.45
February7535
March1305.19
April2459.614
May39015.416
June1857.316
July1204.712
August1204.711
September2459.615
October36514.417
November41516.315
December1756.910
Year252599.4145

In Colombo, the temperature exceeds 30 °C (86 °F) even from December to February, when the northeast monsoon blows, which comes down from the mountains, although the slightly lower humidity makes it more bearable than in the rest of the year. Here are the average temperatures.
Colombo - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January233227.5748981.4
February243228759082.4
March253328.9779184
April253329.3779284.7
May263329.5809185.1
June263229.2808984.5
July263128.9798984
August263128.7798883.7
September253128.3788883
October253128.1778982.7
November243127.7758981.9
December243127.5758881.5
Year25.131.928.477.189.483

In Colombo, the sun regularly shines from January to April, while from May to September, it does not shine very often because it is directly exposed to the southwest monsoon.
Colombo - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January8250
February8.5245
March9275
April8235
May6.5200
June6.5195
July6.5200
August6.5200
September6.5190
October6.5200
November7210
December7215
Year7.22620

In the extreme south-west, in Galle, it rains more than in Colombo in July and August; precipitation is around 2,400 mm (95 in) per year. However, here too, the rains drop to an acceptable level from January to March. Here is the average rainfall.
Galle - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January853.38
February702.86
March1104.39
April2058.112
May29011.416
June1907.517
July1656.516
August1857.316
September2551018
October32512.818
November32012.616
December1756.912
Year238093.7164

Unawatuna beach

In the part of the coast facing south, in Matara and Tangalle, the rains decrease a little, but remain abundant. In Matara, at the southern tip of Sri Lanka, 2,000 mm (78 in) of rain fall per year, and in Tangalle 1,900 mm (75 in).

East coast



Climate of the east coast

The east coast is exposed to the humid winds brought by the depressions that form on the Bay of Bengal from October, and then directly receives the northeast monsoon from December to February, which gradually becomes weaker. In contrast, this coast is sheltered from the south-west monsoon that blows from May to September, so in this period, the sun shines and it is also very hot. Therefore, even though the total rainfall amount is not low, the landscape is semi-arid.
On average, around 1,600 mm (63 in) of rain fall per year.

Trincomalee

In Trincomalee, it is hot all year round. However, in the rainy season, the maximum temperatures drop to around 29/30 °C (84/86 °F), although the humidity increases. On the other hand, the summer period, as well as being quite dry, is also particularly hot, since the prevailing wind blows from the interior. Here are the average temperatures.
Trincomalee - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January242926.3758479.3
February243027768680.7
March253228.1768982.6
April253429.6789385.2
May263530.4799586.7
June263530.8799687.5
July263530.4789586.7
August253530.2789586.4
September253530779585.9
October243328.5769183.3
November243027758680.5
December242926.2748479.1
Year24.832.628.6576.790.783.5

The rains in Trincomalee are abundant from October to January, and very abundant in November and December, at the height of the retreating monsoon. Here is the average precipitation.
Trincomalee - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1706.77
February1054.15
March552.24
April5025
May5024
June2512
July652.64
August853.35
September1003.96
October2208.712
November34513.616
December36414.416
Year163564.486

On the east coast, the sun regularly shines for most of the year, and therefore even in summer, since the area is in a rain shadow from to the southwest monsoon. The least sunny months are the wettest, November and December.
Trincomalee - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January8.5255
February9.5270
March9.5300
April9.5280
May8.5265
June7.5230
July7.5235
August8245
September7205
October7215
November5.5170
December5.5165
Year7.82845

Further south, in Batticaloa, in Kalmunai and in Arugam Bay, a famous beach among surfers, the climate is similar to that of Trincomalee.

Southeast coast



Climate of the southeast coast

On the southeastern coast (see Hambantota, Kirinda), which is quite protected even from the north-east monsoon, rainfall is again quite contained, as in the north-west, and amounts to 1,000/1,200 mm (40/47 in) per year, with a relative peak in April and May, and a more pronounced one from October to December.

Hambantota

In Hambantota, the rainfall amounts to 1,000 mm (40 in) per year, and it exceeds 100 mm (4 in) per month only from October to December. Here is the average rainfall.
Hambantota - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January602.45
February451.83
March652.65
April953.78
May903.58
June602.47
July5026
August552.25
September702.87
October1505.910
November1907.512
December1204.79
Year104541.185

Sea temperature


As mentioned, the sea in Sri Lanka is warm all year round, as we can see from the water temperature near Colombo.
Colombo - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2882
February2882
March2984
April3085
May2985
June2883
July2781
August2781
September2882
October2883
November2883
December2882
Year28.282.8

The interior



Climate of the inland areas

In the interior, the heat is particularly intense at low altitude.

Anuradhapura

In Anuradhapura, in the north-central inland region, the heat is intense throughout the year, but especially between March and September. The rainfall amounts to 1,300 mm (51 in) per year, with a maximum between October and December and a minimum in summer, between June and August. In April and May, there is an increase in the afternoon showers, but not as intense as in the south-west. Here are the average temperatures.
Anuradhapura - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January223026718778.8
February223227.1729080.8
March243529749484.3
April253529.7769585.5
May253429.5789385.1
June263329.5789285
July253429.5779385
August253429.2779284.6
September253429.1769284.4
October243328.4759183.1
November233127.2748880.9
December233026.1738578.9
Year2432.728.375.290.983

Going up in altitude, the climate becomes milder, but also rainier.

Kandy

Already in Kandy, at 450 meters (1,450 ft) above sea level, in the center of the island, the heat is slightly less intense than in the plains: the daily average ranges from 23.5 °C (74 °F) in January to 26 °C (79 °F) in April.
Kandy - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January182823648273.4
February193024.5668676.1
March203125.5688877.9
April213126708878.8
May223026728678.8
June212824.5708276.1
July212824.5708276.1
August212824.5708276.1
September202824688275.2
October202924.5688476.1
November202824688275.2
December202824688275.2
Year20.328.924.5568.58476

Rainfall in Kandy amounts to 1,850 mm (72 in) per year, with a minimum from January to March and a maximum between October and December. In summer, although the rainfall exceeds 100 mm (4 in) per month, after all, it does not rain very much, so much so that the Buddhist festival of Esala Perahera is held for 10 nights in a row in July or August. Here is the average precipitation.
Kandy - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January803.16
February7535
March702.88
April1907.514
May1455.711
June1305.115
July1305.114
August1154.513
September1556.113
October26510.417
November29511.616
December1957.714
Year184072.4146

Nuwara Eliya

In Nuwara Eliya, 1,900 meters (6,200 ft) above sea level, the temperature is spring-like all year round, but at night, it can be a bit cold between December and March. Here are the average temperatures.
Nuwara Eliya - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January92014.5486858.1
February102115.5507059.9
March102316.5507361.7
April112317527362.6
May132117557062.6
June131916556660.8
July131916556660.8
August131916556660.8
September121915.5546659.9
October122016546860.8
November122016546860.8
December111915526659
Year11.620.215.952.968.460.5

In Nuwara Eliya, 1,900 mm (75 in) of rain fall per year; the rainfall pattern is similar to that of Kandy. Here too, there is no real dry season, although in January, February and March, the rains are not very abundant and are around 70/100 mm (2.8/4 in) per month.
Nuwara Eliya - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1003.98
February803.17
March702.88
April1606.313
May1756.913
June1706.716
July1656.517
August1606.316
September1807.115
October2258.918
November2208.717
December1957.715
Year190575163

The sun in Nuwara Eliya is rarely seen from May to September, although it does not shine too often even in the least rainy months, February and March.
Nuwara Eliya - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January5.5165
February6165
March6.5200
April5155
May3.5100
June385
July270
August2.575
September385
October4120
November4125
December4.5145
Year4.11485

Tropical cyclones



Sri Lanka lies in the path of tropical cyclones, even though most of them pass to the north, affecting India and the Bay of Bengal. The period of cyclones, which are able to bring heavy rains and strong winds, goes from April to December.
However, the only months when cyclones typically hit Sri Lanka are November and December, as well as in mid-May, when cyclones generally do not hit Sri Lanka directly, because they form on the Bay of Bengal and then head towards Bangladesh, but they can still bring heavy rains.
However, to tell the truth, tropical depressions (ie less intense tropical cyclones) can form even from January to March, since at so low a latitude, as previously mentioned, the sea remains warm all year round, so it's always able to provide energy for their formation.

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