Like anywhere, the weather in Sri Lanka will depend on where you are and what time of year you are travelling. This is especially true of Sri Lanka, which experiences two separate monsoon seasons. It is hot throughout the year all over the country, except in the hills of the tea country, with the average high hovering around 30°C/86°F.
What is the weather like in Galle and Colombo?
Colombo and Galle are hot throughout the year and located in the rainiest part of Sri Lanka, where rainfall peaks in April–May and October–November.
|
MONTH |
 AVERAGE HIGH |
 AVERAGE LOW |
|
 March to May |
32°C/90°F |
25°C/77°F |
|
 June to August |
30°C/86°F |
25°C/77°F |
|
 September to November |
30°C/86°F |
24°C/75°F |
|
 December to February |
31°C/88°F |
23°C/73°F |
What is the weather like in the north-west of Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka’s north-west sees much less rainfall than the south, though the rains are abundant in October, November and December. The average temperature ranges from 23°C (73°F) to 33°C (91°F) in Jaffna, right at the northern tip.
|
MONTH |
 AVERAGE HIGH |
 AVERAGE LOW |
|
 March to May |
32°C/90°F |
24°C/75°F |
|
 June to August |
33°C/91°F |
27°C/81°F |
|
 September to November |
31°C/88°F |
25°C/77°F |
|
 December to February |
29°C/84°F |
23°C/73°F |
What is the weather like in Kandy?
The heat in Kandy, which lies in the centre of Sri Lanka at an altitude of over 450 m (1450 ft), is less intense than in other areas. The average temperature runs from a low of 18°C (64°F) to a high of 31°C (88°F).
|
MONTH |
 AVERAGE HIGH |
 AVERAGE LOW |
|
 March to May |
31°C/88°F |
21°C/70°F |
|
 June to August |
28°C/82°F |
20°C/68°F |
|
 September to November |
28°C/82°F |
20°C/68°F |
|
 December to February |
29°C/84°F |
19°C/66°F |
What is the weather like in Nuwara Eliya?
The hilly tea country gets quite chilly compared to the rest of Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya, which sits at just under 2000 m (6562 ft), sees average temperatures of 9°C (48°F) to 23°C (73°F). There’s no real dry season here, with rainfall throughout the year, though February and March see less rain than the other months as well as the most hours of sunshine.
|
MONTH |
 AVERAGE HIGH |
 AVERAGE LOW |
|
 March to May |
22°C/72°F |
11°C/52°F |
|
 June to August |
19°C/66°F |
13°C/55°F |
|
 September to November |
20°C/68°F |
12°C/54°F |
|
 December to February |
20°C/68°F |
10°C/50°F |
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What is the weather like on the east coast?
In cities like Trincomalee and Batticaloa it is hot all year with the rainy season running from October through till February, peaking in November and December. The average temperature ranges from 23°C (73°F) to 34°C (93°F).Â
|
MONTH |
 AVERAGE HIGH |
 AVERAGE LOW |
|
 March to May |
32°C/90°F |
25°C/77°F |
|
 June to August |
33°C/91°F |
25°C/77°F |
|
 September to November |
31°C/88°F |
24°C/75°F |
|
 December to February |
28°C/82°F |
23°C/73°F |