Sri Lanka Climate
When Is the Best Time To Visit Sri Lanka?
The answer to the question of what is the best month to visit Sri Lanka depends on what you are interested in doing during your stay. Here you can see an overview of each month and its typical weather conditions.
Climate of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka lies in the humid sub-equatorial climate zone, characterized by high temperatures and heavy rainfall. Rainfall is not regular, is often abundant and can occur in any month, so that the humidity does not fall below 60% and often exceeds 80%.
The main factor shaping the island's climate is the seasonal monsoon winds, and the weather in different regions of the country depends on them.
The intense Yala monsoon blowing from the Indian Ocean lasts from May to August. It causes weather breakdown and rains on the west and southwest coasts. The dry season in these regions lasts from December to March.
The much weaker Maha monsoon lasting from October to January brings rainfall to the north and east of the island. Here, in turn, the dry season lasts from May to September.
The average annual air temperature varies between 25°C - 30°C. On the country's coast it reaches as high as 35°C, and the water temperature stays between 27°C - 29°C all year round. It is much cooler in the mountainous areas in the southern and southwestern parts of the country, where in the hottest months (March and April) the temperature is only 22°C, while in the coolest months (July and August) it drops to 15°C.
Temperature records
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Climate and Average Weather in Sri Lanka
General weather conditions each month by city.
Weather Map
The icons next to the month name indicate the convenience of the date for visiting the selected area/territory/ country. They are only a suggestion and should not be used as the final criterion for selecting your travel date. The season is defined as the time period with the weather favorable for sightseeing (or sunbathing - small island countries) for the average tourist. For countries with a large geographical range, the most touristic places were included.
India