Seasons and weather in Sri Lanka by month, when is the best time to go

Despite the small size of the island, the weather and seasons here in Sri Lanka are very different at the same moment. And although in general it is always hot here, it happens that when the weather is constantly clear in one resort, just a couple of hundred kilometers from it on the other coast, the Doge season can take place, when it rains all day and monsoon winds blow. That is why the choice of a resort on the island should be approached with caution, otherwise you can completely spoil your entire vacation.

We collected and summarized information about seasons and weather in all parts of the island, and displayed it on an interactive map by month (switch months at the bottom of the map). If the map doesn't work properly for some reason, you can read the text description below.

Table of seasons in Sri Lanka by month:

Seasons in Sri Lanka by month:

• January

  January is the best time to visit the Western (Negombo, Colombo, Bentota, etc.) and southern resorts (Unawatuna, Mirissa, Tangale, etc.).

  In the central regions of the country (Kandy, Nuwara Eliya), the weather is changeable, but in general you can go there for long excursions. In the mountainous areas (Nuwara Eliya) at this time it is quite cool, especially at night.

  On the West Coast (Trincomalee) and in the North (Anuradhapura and Jaffna), the weather is not the best, and if possible, it is worth postponing the trip to these areas.

• February

  Weather conditions are exactly the same as in January.

• March

  March is a time when you can go to any place on the island, and everywhere there will be wonderful weather. And although on the East Coast (Trincomalee) and in the north it is not the best season, the conditions for recreation are quite acceptable.

• April

  As in March, in April you can go to any resort, and everywhere you get beautiful weather. It remains only to choose the best places from the best.

• May

  The monsoon season begins, blowing in from the Indian Ocean. This can not but worsen the weather on the whole island. It is particularly bad on the West Coast (in Colombo and Negombo) and in the south, where May is the maximum rainfall. But in general, you can still go anywhere, you just can not be sure that it will not rain and the sun will always shine. The best places at this time are the south and East Coast.

  Monsoon winds create strong waves on the western and southern coasts, such that sometimes swimming in the ocean becomes simply dangerous. Only in rare places, such as Unawatuna, where the Bay is protected, you can safely enter the sea.

• June

  The weather is still satisfactory throughout the island, but far from ideal. You can rest anywhere, but rains are not excluded. It is best in June to go to the East (Trincomalee), where it is just the height of the best season.

  As in May, the monsoon creates strong waves on the western and southern shores, and swimming is dangerous or at least uncomfortable.

• July

  In July, in the south and west of the island, as well as in the center of the island, the weather becomes worse. Sunny days, of course, are, but the probability of daily rains is great. The sky is often overcast. Monsoon winds still do not allow swimming due to strong waves.

  In the North and east coast it is quite the opposite and it is a great time to go to Trinocomalee and visit attractions in the North such as Anuradhapura and Mihintale.

• August

  August is an unusual month. The low season and monsoon season continue, but the weather unexpectedly gives tourists a chance to relax in most of the country's resorts this month. In all beach resorts, the weather improves, the number of sunny days becomes more, and the amount of precipitation decreases. Only in the center of the island the weather is not the best, but also not so that it is not worth going on excursions to The Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka and to the mountainous regions of Nuwara Eliya.

  Unfortunately, the wind and waves in the West and South weaken a little, but still make it difficult and uncomfortable to swim in the ocean.

• September

  The good August weather ends abruptly, and the low season begins again in the south and West. Swimming is also not recommended due to strong waves and wind. But on the east coast, the high season continues in full with a calm sea and an abundance of sunny days.

• October

  The weather continues to deteriorate throughout the island, moving towards the peak of the low season. It is in October and November that the maximum amount of precipitation falls on most resorts of the island, and in general this is the worst season. Moreover, it is getting worse not only on the south and West Coast, but also in the East in Trincomalee. At the same time, if in the east you can still find a certain number of sunny days having recovered there for luck, then in the West and south there are very few chances to find the sun and a cloudless sky.

  The monsoon in October begins to fade, as do the waves, but swimming is still not comfortable.

• November

  The bad sod continues its triumphant march, and along with October, November is one of the worst months in Sri Lanka. There is practically nowhere to go, except to get lucky on the south or south-west coast. On the east coast, a very rainy season begins abruptly.

  Fortunately, in the second half of the month, the weather in the south and West Coast begins to improve. And yet, the winds in November subside, the waves become less, and the bathing season begins.

• December

  December is a transitional month between the high season, which starts abruptly in January in much of Sri Lanka. Really constantly bad weather persists only on the East Coast. You can already go to the south and West, and there is a high probability that you will find good weather there.