The weather and best time will be major fact to consider before planning your Sri Lanka travel. Sri Lanka’s position between 5 and 10 north latitudes endows the country with a year-round warm tropical climate. There aren’t any prominent seasons like winter, spring, summer, or autumn, but there are monsoons. There are two separate monsoons in different regions at different timing in Sri Lanka. Therefore, you need to avoid the monsoon and select the best time to visit Sri Lanka. The bright side is there is usually good weather somewhere on the island most of the time of year. It allows visitors to enjoy the beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka at any time of the year.
The topography of Sri Lanka is strongly affecting the climate of the country. Central Highlands is the major fact to determine spatial patterns of winds, seasonal rainfall, temperature, relative humidity, and other climatic elements. The western side of the central highlands receives high precipitation, while the eastern side gets less precipitation.
The highly moisturized winds from the Indian Ocean encounter the slopes of the western side of central highlands and unload heavy rains on that side. The eastern side of the central highlands receives rain from the less moisturized winds of the northeastern monsoon. The western side of the central highlands is included in the wet zone, while the eastern side of the central highlands is included in the dry zone.
The Climatic zones of Sri Lanka
According to the rainfall, Sri Lanka can be divided into four distinct climate zones; wet zone, dry zone, intermediate zone, and arid zone. Here you will learn more about the conditions of each zone of Sri Lanka and the best timing to visit each attraction in the country.
Wet zone
The wet zone covers the southwestern side of the central highlands of Sri Lanka. It receives a high mean annual rainfall of over 2500 mm rainfall from the southwestern monsoon. This area gets rain from the southwestern monsoon from May to September and inter-monsoons in April and October. Therefore any pronounced dry period cannot be seen in the wet zone. Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Galle are the major tourist cities in the wet zone.
Dry zone
The dry zone receives a mean annual rainfall of less than 1750 mm and it covers predominantly the northern and eastern parts of the country. Rainfall is basically received from the north-eastern monsoon, from December to March. There is very little precipitation during the rest of the year, with a distinct long dry season from May to September. Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, Trincomalee, and Jaffna are the major tourist cities in the dry zone.
Intermediate zone
The Intermediate zone separates the wet zone and dry zone, while it receives a mean annual rainfall between 1750 to 2500 mm with a short and less prominent dry season.
Arid zone
The arid northwest and southeast coasts receive the least amount of rain within a short period of the northeastern monsoon. The rainfall is less than 1750 mm per year and there is a prolonged drought season. The vegetation has adapted to survive in drought conditions by conserving precious moisture received from the short rainy season. Part of Hambantota city is included in the arid zone.
Climatic conditions of major touristic cities
Because of the distinct weather patterns in different climatic zones, each region needs its own weather chart. By using these detailed weather charts, you’ll learn the best time to visit the areas you’re interested in. We’ve looked at four major touristic cities across the country, focusing on Colombo, a coastal city in the wet zone of the island; Nuwara Eliya in the heart of hill country; Kandy, a mountainous city in the wet zone, and Anuradhapura from the dry zone of Sri Lanka. In the following graphs, we have shown maximum temperatures and the average number of days with precipitation in each city to decide when is the best time to visit Sri Lanka.
Temperature and rainfall in Colombo
Colombo is the capital of Sri Lanka and it is located in the wet zone having intense rains in May with the activation of the southwestern monsoon. There will be occasional showers in day time until September. It receives rain from inter-monsoon rains in April and October, with clear daytime and afternoon showers at that time.
The temperature in Colombo only alters by a few degrees throughout the year and stays around 30°C. Sunlight is strong in Sri Lankan coastal areas, which may cause sunburn on pale-colored skin. In order to avoid sunburn, it is important to use a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreens. The humidity in Colombo normally fluctuates around 70% year-round. The daytime humidity is rising to over 90% during the monsoon season in May and June.
Most southern coastal cities including Galle, Unawatuna, Mirissa, and Tangalle have similar weather, with high temperatures and humidity. But you’ll feel less disturbed by humid weather since the winds from the Indian Ocean usually give comfort by reducing the humidity. The breeze in coastal areas is light and gentle, while strong winds can rarely occur. The windiest month is June, followed by July and August.
Apart from the heavy rains from the southwestern monsoon between May to September, the weather is pleasant for the rest of the year to visit Colombo. The best time to visit Colombo is from November to March when there are the fewest rainy days. March and April are considered as the height of the season for the tourist areas of the wet zone in Sri Lanka.
Temperature and rainfall in Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya is located at the heart of the hill country in Sri Lanka, at an altitude of 2500 m. Since the temperature decrease with altitude, the mean annual temperate is only 16°C and the maximum temperature is around 25°C. Nuwara Eliya is the coolest city in the country and it has a spring-like climate all year round. The annual mean temperature in Nuwara Eliya is 10°C less than the other towns, whereas the temperature in other cities is around 26°C. You’ll find the weather is more pleasant and agreeable in the hill country. If you are susceptible to high temperatures and humidity in coastal areas, include the high-altitude region to enjoy the pleasant climatic conditions.
Nights in the hill country can be quite chilly, with temperatures sometimes falling close to freezing. In the coldest months of December and January, nighttime temperatures can drop as low as 3°C but warms up during the day. Since these are the highest parts of the island, the temperature never exceeds 25°C. If you visit the hill country, a sweater or jacket will be required to keep you warm at night. Remember to pack a raincoat while hiking in Horton Plains or the Knuckles Mountain Range, because there can be sudden climatic changes.
There is a year-round high rainfall in the Nuwara Eliya area. Since it has located on the western slopes of the central highlands, it receives high precipitation by both south-western monsoons and inter-monsoons. Usually, there are around 15 rainy days per month and this area is having frequent showers, fog, and mist.
Temperature and rainfall in Kandy
Kandy is the gateway to the central highlands of Sri Lanka and located on a plateau surrounded by mountains, at an elevation of around 500m. Kandy has pleasantly mild tropical year-round climatic conditions. The weather of Kandy is influenced by its geographical location. The Kandyan terrain is located on the western slopes of the central highlands and it receives high precipitation from both southwestern and inter-monsoons. There is an intense rainy season from May and June with the activation of the southwestern monsoon. In April and October, clear daytime and afternoon showers occurred by inter-monsoon rains.
The Kandyan terrain is much wetter and cooler than the tropical coastal regions of Sri Lanka. The mean annual temperature of Kandy is 25 °C and daytime humidity usually ranges between 70 and 79%. The best months to visit Kandy with the least number of rainy days are between December to March.
Temperature and rainfall in Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura is located in the dry zone; a fairly hot and humid destination with the temperature staying around 30 °C without hardly changing in the whole year. The north-eastern monsoon hits this area from December to February. The best months to visit Anuradhapura are May to September, the very long dry season. The peak of drought season reaches from August to September, when elephants start to migrate in search of food of water. If you are going to Minneriya or Kaudulla to see the elephant gathering, August and September are the best.
The humidity in Anuradhapura fluctuated between the lowest of 60% in March, and the highest of 79%, during the December monsoon rains. Since the temperature is fairly high in cities like Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, wearing loose-fitting cotton clothes and drinking lots of water or juices is helpful for staying hydrated.
Best Time to visit Sri Lanka
The best time to visit Sri Lanka depends on the rainfall pattern of each area. Since there are two prominent monsoons, the southwest monsoon (May to September) and the northeast monsoon (December to March), the destinations should be selected to avoid the rainy period. Here we have mentioned the summary of the best time to visit each attraction in the country.
1. May – September (South Western Monsoon)
- Intermittent rains in the wet zone
- Frequent showers in Colombo, Kandy, Galle, or Nuwara Eliya
- Best time to visit Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya or Dambulla
- Ideal to visit northern and eastern beaches
- Best time to visit Trincomalee, Jaffna, Mannar, Arugam Bay
- August-September elephant gathering at Minneriya and Kaudulla
2. December to February (North Eastern Monsoon)
- Rainy season in the dry zone
- Frequent showers in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee or Jaffna
- Ideal to visit the south and western beaches
- Best time to visit Colombo, Kandy, Galle or Nuwara Eliya
- Whale watching season at Mirissa
- See the amazing wildlife in Udawalawe or Yala National Park
- Horton Plains National Park and Knuckles Mountain range
- Pilgrimage season of holy Adam’s Peak
The peak of the tourism season runs from January to April each year. Most travellers consider this period the best time to visit Sri Lanka. Certainly, this is the ideal time to visit most of the southern beaches including Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, Mirissa, and Hiriketiya. As well, this is the best time to see elephants in Udawalawe and leopards in Yala.
Final thoughts
- If you are visiting Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, or Galle on the South and western side, the best period is December to April. Catch some waves and chill out on splendid beaches in southern coastal areas including Weligama, Tangalle, Hiriketiya, Hikkaduwa, Mirissa, or Unawatuna Bay.
- If you are visiting Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, or Jaffna on the North and Eastern coast, the period between May to September is best. Enjoy the pristine beaches of the north, northwest, and eastern coast and ride the waves at Arugam Bay or Kalpitiya.
- Overall, January, February, March, and April are the best time to visit Sri Lanka when most of the parts of the island are not affected by monsoons. This period is the peak season of tourism, while the months from May to October are the low season of tourism.
The unique feature of totally different weather in different parts of the country attracts a lot of visitors to Sri Lanka as a year-round destination. Whatever time of the year you travel, you can arrange a satisfying itinerary to enjoy the best weather. Choose your destination to avoid monsoons to have an incredible Sri Lankan tour. We hope you’ll make your itinerary to experience the nice weather in your destinations. With the knowledge of the best time to visit Sri Lanka. plan your trip well ahead. Have a nice time in Sri Lanka enjoying the best weather!
Images from Wikimedia Commons, Pixabay, and the weather charts are taken from weather-guide.com.