Warm all year: around 30 °C on the coast and 20 °C in the hills. What changes is the rain – which moves around the island with the two monsoons.
Right now: late September
The south-west monsoon is easing. The east coast is still dry and warm; the south and west see showers. From October, expect short afternoon rain island-wide.
Temperature, rain & sea by region
Typical values – for advice on when to go, see our best-time guide.
Month blocks
What the weather is usually like around the island.
Weather in Sri Lanka: the basics
Sri Lanka lies just north of the equator, so the weather in Sri Lanka is warm all year. On the coast daytime temperatures sit around 27–31 °C in almost every month, the Cultural Triangle can reach 33 °C or more in April and May, and the hill country is much cooler – Nuwara Eliya rarely gets above 22 °C and can drop to 10 °C at night. The sea stays at 27–29 °C all year.
What changes from month to month is the rain, which follows the two monsoons around the island. That is why it is almost always dry somewhere.
South Sri Lanka weather
The south coast – Galle, Unawatuna, Mirissa, Weligama and Tangalle – has its dry season from November to April. Days are sunny, humidity is lower and the sea is calm enough for swimming. From May to September the south-west monsoon brings showers and, more noticeably, big waves and strong currents. Even then there are plenty of sunny hours, and surfers love the season, but swimming is often not safe.
Sri Lanka weather in December and January
Sri Lanka weather in December marks the start of high season in the south, the west and the hills. Rain has largely cleared there, and the coast sees long sunny days. The east coast and the north, however, are in the middle of the north-east monsoon, with heavy showers and rough seas. January follows the same pattern, with even more settled weather in the south and the clearest skies in the tea country.
Sri Lanka temperature in February and March
February is one of the driest months across most of the island. Expect about 30–31 °C on the coast, warm days in the Cultural Triangle and cool nights in Nuwara Eliya, where a jumper is welcome in the evening. March is similar but a little hotter, and the views from Little Adam’s Peak and Horton Plains are at their best.
April: the hottest month
April is the hottest month of the year, with highs of 32–33 °C on the coast and more inland. Humidity rises and the first showers usually arrive towards the end of the month. Mid-April brings Sinhala and Tamil New Year, so expect a festive atmosphere and a few closed shops.
May to September: the Sri Lanka climate in August
From May the south-west monsoon brings rain to the west coast, the south and the western hill country. June is usually the wettest month there. At the same time, the east coast enters its best season: Trincomalee, Nilaveli and Pasikudah are dry, sunny and calm.
The Sri Lanka climate in August is a good example of how the island balances out: windy with passing showers in the south, but dry and hot in the east and north, and often pleasant in Ella and the Uva hills. Sri Lanka weather in August is ideal for a route that heads east.
Sri Lanka weather in October and November
October and November fall between the two monsoons. The weather in Sri Lanka in these months is changeable, with afternoon showers almost everywhere – sometimes heavy, rarely all day. Sri Lanka weather in October is often the wettest of the year inland, while by late November the south coast begins to dry out for the new season. The countryside is at its greenest and hotels are quieter.
Hill country weather
The hill country has its own climate. Kandy at about 500 metres is warm but rarely oppressive. Nuwara Eliya at around 1,900 metres is cool, with morning mist and chilly evenings all year. Ella sits lower and is milder. The clearest views come from January to March; from May to September the western slopes around Hatton see more rain, while Ella often stays drier. Pack a warm layer whatever the month.
Sea conditions and swimming
The sea around Sri Lanka is warm all year, but whether you can swim depends on the season and the coast. On the south and west coasts the water is calmest from November to April; from May to September waves and currents can be strong, and red flags mean no swimming. On the east coast the calm season runs from May to September. Some bays, such as Pasikudah, stay shallow and sheltered, which makes them ideal for families. Always ask at your hotel before swimming at an unfamiliar beach.
Frequently asked questions
April, with highs of 32–33 °C on the coast.
Rarely. Monsoon rain usually comes in heavy bursts, often in the afternoon.
27–30 °C all year round.
Dry and sunny in the south, west and hill country, around 30 °C on the coast. The east coast and the north are wet in December.
Around 30–31 °C on the coast, 28–32 °C in the Cultural Triangle and 10–22 °C in Nuwara Eliya. February is one of the driest months.
February is one of the driest, sunniest months in the south, the west and the hill country. The east coast is drying out too, and the sea on the south coast is calm.
