Seasons in Sri Lanka
The Department of Meteorology divides the year into four seasons: the first inter-monsoon from March to April, the southwest monsoon from May to September, the second inter-monsoon from October to November and the northeast monsoon from December to February.[2] Monsoon rain accounts for nearly 55% of annual rainfall, and most of the rest falls as afternoon thunderstorms and as depression rain in the inter-monsoon periods.[1] In the 1961 to 1990 average, the southwest monsoon and the second inter-monsoon each delivered about 30% of the year's rain, the northeast monsoon 26% and the first inter-monsoon 14%.[3]
The southwest monsoon rains mostly on the southwestern parts of the island, starting in the southwestern lowlands and spreading inland, with heavy rain in the hill country from June to August.[1] During the northeast monsoon, the eastern half of the island receives from about 200 mm to more than 1,200 mm of rain.[1] Our data shows the same split: Colombo gets 357 mm in May and Arugam Bay only 46 mm, while in December Arugam Bay gets 356 mm and Colombo 176 mm. In the inter-monsoon months winds are generally light and sea-breeze thundershowers can occur anywhere on the island from about midday, and from October to November depressions add widespread rain.[1] Mean monthly temperatures vary little through the year, so rain matters more than heat when choosing a month for most of the island.[1]
Region by region
West and South Coast (Colombo, Galle)
Colombo and Galle are rated best in January and February, with 70 mm and 92 mm of rain in Colombo and 115 mm and 119 mm in Galle. Colombo is also rated best in July and August with 126 mm and 106 mm, a drier spell inside the southwest monsoon, while Galle is rated good in those months with 197 mm and 210 mm.
The wet months are April, May, October and November: Colombo is rated poor in May, October and November with 357 mm, 444 mm and 404 mm of rain, and Galle is rated poor in October and November with 420 mm and 390 mm. SLTDA's marine tourism roadmap describes the traditional high season in the south as the winter months and in the east as the summer months.[4] The Arugam Bay master plan lists the surf season on the southern coast as November to May.[5]
Hill Country (Kandy, Ella)
Kandy is not rated best in any month because rainfall never drops below 139 mm. February to September are rated good with 139 to 216 mm a month, while October, November and December are rated poor with 358 mm, 393 mm and 360 mm. Ella is the exception: it is rated best from May to September, with just 30 mm of rain in June and 40 mm in July, but April (283 mm) and October to December (258 mm, 357 mm and 298 mm) are wet. Ella's mean daily highs stay at 25 to 27 °C and its nights fall to 17 to 20 °C through the year.
The Department of Census and Statistics notes considerable heavy rain in the hill country from June to August, and temperature falls by about 6.5 °C for each 1,000 metres of height.[1] Kandy records 152 mm in June, 151 mm in July and 169 mm in August, while Ella records 30 mm, 40 mm and 86 mm, so the hills do not share one weather pattern. The Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) pilgrimage season begins with the Unduvap Poya and continues until the Vesak Poya, and heavy mist and very cold weather are reported on the range during the southwest monsoon.[6]
Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya)
Sigiriya is rated best in February, March and from May to September, and good in January and April. June is its driest month with 12 mm of rain, and daily highs stay close to 32 °C from March to September (31.7 to 32.0 °C). October and November are mixed with 284 mm and 308 mm, and December is rated poor with 383 mm.
In SLTDA's 2025 visitor counts, Sigiriya was busiest in August, foreign arrivals peaked from January to March, and domestic visits peaked in April, May, June and August.[7]
North (Jaffna)
Jaffna is rated best from January to September. Its driest months are June and July (12 mm and 21 mm) and February (29 mm), and daily highs reach 33.7 °C in April and 33.6 °C in May. Rain comes with the northeast monsoon and the second inter-monsoon: 278 mm in October, 455 mm in November and 306 mm in December. In 4 of the 30 Decembers a tropical storm passed within 200 km, and in 2 of the 30 Novembers.
SLTDA's marine tourism roadmap describes Jaffna's high season as April to September or October and its rainy season as November to January, when conditions for water-based activities are difficult or subpar.[4] January is still rated best in our data with 101 mm of rain.
East Coast (Trincomalee, Arugam Bay)
Arugam Bay is rated best from March to September and receives only 20 to 28 mm of rain a month from June to September. Its wet months are November to February with 322 mm, 356 mm, 332 mm and 248 mm, and December is rated poor. Trincomalee is rated best in February to April and June to September, good in January and May, and wet from October (253 mm) to December (324 mm), with November (400 mm) rated poor. It is also hot in the dry season, with mean daily highs of 34.5 °C in May and 34.1 to 34.4 °C from June to August.
The Arugam Bay master plan puts the surf season from May to October and the tourism season from April to October.[5] SLTDA's marine tourism roadmap describes year-round boating and diving and snorkelling conditions in Trincomalee.[4]
Sri Lanka month by month
Sri Lanka in January
ColomboGalleKandyEllaSigiriyaJaffnaTrincomaleeArugam Bay
Great or good weather: Jaffna, Colombo, Galle, Trincomalee, Sigiriya, and Ella.
Most rain: Arugam Bay, 332 mm.
Hottest days: Colombo, 32 °C on average.
In January Jaffna, Colombo and Galle are rated best, Trincomalee, Sigiriya and Ella good, and Kandy (239 mm) and Arugam Bay (332 mm) mixed. Arugam Bay is outside its May to October surf season.[5]
Sri Lanka in February
ColomboGalleKandyEllaSigiriyaJaffnaTrincomaleeArugam Bay
Great or good weather: Jaffna, Trincomalee, Sigiriya, Colombo, Galle, Kandy, and Ella.
Most rain: Arugam Bay, 248 mm.
Hottest days: Colombo, 32 °C on average.
February has five places rated best (Jaffna, Trincomalee, Sigiriya, Colombo and Galle), Kandy and Ella good, and only Arugam Bay mixed with 248 mm. Jaffna is the driest place with 29 mm of rain.
Sri Lanka in March
ColomboGalleKandyEllaSigiriyaJaffnaTrincomaleeArugam Bay
Great or good weather: Jaffna, Trincomalee, Sigiriya, Arugam Bay, Kandy, Colombo, Ella, and Galle.
Most rain: Kandy, 162 mm.
Hottest days: Trincomalee, 33 °C on average.
March is the most even month: Jaffna, Trincomalee, Sigiriya and Arugam Bay are rated best and the other four places good, with none rated mixed or poor. It falls in the first inter-monsoon,[2] when rain is mainly afternoon or evening showers that can occur anywhere on the island.[1]
Sri Lanka in April
ColomboGalleKandyEllaSigiriyaJaffnaTrincomaleeArugam Bay
Great or good weather: Jaffna, Trincomalee, Arugam Bay, Sigiriya, and Kandy.
Most rain: Ella, 283 mm.
Hottest days: Trincomalee, 34 °C on average.
In April Colombo (280 mm), Ella (283 mm) and Galle (275 mm) are rated mixed, while Jaffna, Trincomalee and Arugam Bay are still rated best. The day before Sinhala and Tamil New Year and New Year's Day itself, 13 and 14 April in 2027, are public, bank and mercantile holidays.[8]
Sri Lanka in May
ColomboGalleKandyEllaSigiriyaJaffnaTrincomaleeArugam Bay
Great or good weather: Jaffna, Sigiriya, Ella, Arugam Bay, Trincomalee, and Kandy.
Most rain: Colombo, 357 mm.
Hottest days: Trincomalee, 35 °C on average.
May has the widest split between places: Colombo is rated poor (357 mm), Galle mixed (350 mm) and Trincomalee good because of heat (mean daily highs of 34.5 °C), while Jaffna, Sigiriya, Ella and Arugam Bay are rated best. In 2027 Vesak Full Moon Poya Day falls on 19 May and the following day is also a public holiday.[8] The Sri Pada pilgrimage season ends with the Vesak Poya.[6]
Sri Lanka in June
ColomboGalleKandyEllaSigiriyaJaffnaTrincomaleeArugam Bay
Great or good weather: Jaffna, Trincomalee, Sigiriya, Ella, Arugam Bay, Kandy, and Colombo.
Most rain: Galle, 226 mm.
Hottest days: Trincomalee, 34 °C on average.
June is rated best in Jaffna, Trincomalee, Sigiriya, Ella and Arugam Bay, good in Kandy (152 mm) and Colombo (196 mm), and mixed in Galle (226 mm). Jaffna and Sigiriya each record just 12 mm, their driest month of the year.
Sri Lanka in July
ColomboGalleKandyEllaSigiriyaJaffnaTrincomaleeArugam Bay
Great or good weather: Jaffna, Trincomalee, Sigiriya, Colombo, Ella, Arugam Bay, Kandy, and Galle.
Most rain: Galle, 197 mm.
Hottest days: Trincomalee, 34 °C on average.
July is rated best in six of the eight places, with only Kandy (151 mm) and Galle (197 mm) rated good, and Colombo gets 126 mm. SLTDA's Arugam Bay master plan describes the island's general high season as January to March and December, with a mini peak in July and August because of the Kandy Perahera, and says the pattern is entirely different on the east coast.[5]
Sri Lanka in August
ColomboGalleKandyEllaSigiriyaJaffnaTrincomaleeArugam Bay
Great or good weather: Jaffna, Trincomalee, Sigiriya, Colombo, Ella, Arugam Bay, Kandy, and Galle.
Most rain: Galle, 210 mm.
Hottest days: Trincomalee, 34 °C on average.
August repeats July's pattern: six places are rated best and Kandy (169 mm) and Galle (210 mm) are good. The Kandy Esala Perahera runs for ten nights of processions followed by a day procession, and in 2026 it ran from 18 to 28 August.[9]
Sri Lanka in September
ColomboGalleKandyEllaSigiriyaJaffnaTrincomaleeArugam Bay
Great or good weather: Jaffna, Trincomalee, Sigiriya, Ella, Arugam Bay, and Kandy.
Most rain: Galle, 278 mm.
Hottest days: Trincomalee, 34 °C on average.
In September Jaffna, Trincomalee, Sigiriya, Ella and Arugam Bay (28 mm) are rated best, Kandy is good (185 mm), and Colombo (230 mm) and Galle (278 mm) are mixed. Binara Full Moon Poya Day falls on 15 September in 2027.[8] On Poya days bars, liquor shops and meat stalls must stay closed.[10]
Sri Lanka in October
ColomboGalleKandyEllaSigiriyaJaffnaTrincomaleeArugam Bay
Great or good weather: Arugam Bay.
Most rain: Colombo, 444 mm.
Hottest days: Trincomalee, 32 °C on average.
October brings the second inter-monsoon: Colombo (444 mm), Galle (420 mm) and Kandy (358 mm) are rated poor, Jaffna, Trincomalee, Sigiriya and Ella are mixed, and Arugam Bay is the only place rated good with 138 mm. Depressions are responsible for a good part of the rain in October and November.[1]
Sri Lanka in November
ColomboGalleKandyEllaSigiriyaJaffnaTrincomaleeArugam Bay
No place on the map has great or good weather.
Most rain: Jaffna, 455 mm.
Hottest days: Colombo, 31 °C on average.
November is rated poor in six of the eight places, including Jaffna (455 mm), Colombo (404 mm), Trincomalee (400 mm), Kandy (393 mm) and Galle (390 mm), and mixed in Sigiriya and Arugam Bay. SLTDA's marine tourism roadmap lists November to January as the rainy season in the north, with difficult conditions for water-based activities.[4]
Sri Lanka in December
ColomboGalleKandyEllaSigiriyaJaffnaTrincomaleeArugam Bay
Great or good weather: Colombo and Galle.
Most rain: Sigiriya, 383 mm.
Hottest days: Colombo, 31 °C on average.
December is rated good in Colombo (176 mm) and Galle (220 mm), mixed in Jaffna, Trincomalee and Ella, and poor in Sigiriya (383 mm), Kandy (360 mm) and Arugam Bay (356 mm). A tropical storm came within 200 km of Jaffna in 4 of the 30 Decembers and of Trincomalee in 3. The Sri Pada pilgrimage season begins with the Unduvap Poya[6], which falls on 13 December in 2027.[8]
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Sri Lanka?
It depends on the coast. Colombo and Galle are rated best in January and February, and Trincomalee, Jaffna and Arugam Bay in most months from March to September, while March is the most even month with every place rated best or good.
When is the rainy season in Sri Lanka?
There are two monsoons: the southwest monsoon from May to September and the northeast monsoon from December to February.[2] The southwest monsoon rains mostly on the southwestern parts of the island and the northeast monsoon on the eastern half, and taking the island as a whole, the second inter-monsoon from October to November is the rainiest period of the year.[1]
Is July or August a good time to visit Sri Lanka?
In our data six of the eight places are rated best in both months, including Colombo, Ella and Arugam Bay, and Kandy and Galle are rated good. SLTDA's Arugam Bay master plan describes a mini peak in tourist numbers in July and August because of the Kandy Perahera.[5]
When is the best time to visit Galle and the south coast?
January and February are rated best for Galle, with 115 mm and 119 mm of rain, and March is rated good. April to June and September are mixed, and October and November are rated poor with 420 mm and 390 mm.
When is the best time to visit Arugam Bay?
Arugam Bay is rated best from March to September, and SLTDA puts the surf season from May to October.[5] November to February are wet, with 248 to 356 mm a month.
What happens on Poya days in Sri Lanka?
Every full moon Poya day is a public holiday, and bars, liquor shops and meat stalls must stay closed on it.[10]
About the data
Temperatures and rain are long-term averages for 1991 to 2020 from TerraClimate, and the typhoon risk counts tropical storms from NOAA IBTrACS. The ratings use the same rules for every country. How the rating works.
Long-term averages, not a forecast. The weather in a given year can be quite different.
Travel guide: Sri Lanka
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka: Statistical Abstract 2024, Chapter I: Area and Climate. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [2] Department of Meteorology, Sri Lanka: Climate News Letter, Volume 5 (article: Temperature Changes in Sri Lanka, Evidence of a Warming Climate, 1975 to 2024). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [3] Department of Meteorology, Sri Lanka (presentation by its Deputy Director, hosted by the World Bank): Weather and Climate Services in Sri Lanka. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [4] Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority: Report on the Marine Tourism Roadmap for Sri Lanka. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [5] Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (plan prepared by the Urban Development Authority): Arugam Bay Tourism Development Master Plan 2020 to 2030, Final Report. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [6] Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation / Department of Wildlife Conservation, Sri Lanka (document hosted on env.gov.lk): Adams Peak Wilderness Reserve (reserve article). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [7] Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority: Year in Review, 2025. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [8] Central Bank of Sri Lanka: Bank Holidays for 2027. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [9] Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic), Kandy: The Kandy Esala Perahera Festival 2026. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [10] Government of Sri Lanka, Holidays Act (Chapter 364, No. 29 of 1971), text hosted by Lanka Law: Holidays Act, Chapter 364. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
