Sri Lanka Weather and Temperature by month

Sri Lanka, a small island in the Indian Ocean, experiences two main monsoons.It has a tropical climate, with alternating wet and dry seasons due to its tropical environment. Although Sri Lanka has a small land area, it experiences significant regional weather variations. Those are,

Southwest Monsoon (Yala): May to September, affecting the western, southern and central regions.
Northeast Monsoon (Maha): November to March, affecting the northern and eastern regions.

However, its climate is pleasant. In simple terms, temperatures range from 6°c to 30°c (43°f to 86°f) in the coastal areas and cool temperatures of 15°c to 18°c (59°f to 64°f) in the central highlands.

Here is a more detailed overview of the Monthly weather in Sri Lanka:

Sri Lanka Monthly Weather Breakdown

DRY SEASON (SOUTHWEST & CENTRAL)

December

Weather: SW Coast - Dry (27-30°C); NE Coast - Rainy
Best Places: Bentota, Mirissa, Yala National Park, Nuwara Eliya
Activities: Beach Holidays, Wildlife Safaris, Whale Watching
Events: Christmas Celebrations, Unduwap Poya

January

Weather: SW coast arid (27-30°C); NE Coast - Improving
Best Places: Bentota, Mirissa, Kandy, Yala National Park
Activities: Beach holidays, cultural exploration, whale watching (peak)
Events: Thai Pongal (Tamil festival)

February

Weather: Island-wide excellent conditions (28-31°C coastal)
Best Places: Mirissa, Sigiriya, Horton Plains, Galle
Activities: Beach time, whale watching, water sports, hiking
Events: Independence Day, Navam Perahera

March

Weather: Predominantly dry with rising temperatures (29-32°C coastal)
Best Places: Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Ella, southern beaches
Activities: Cultural sites, tea plantations, last good beach month in the south
Events: Maha Sivarathri

TRANSITION PERIOD

April

Weather: Hottest month (30-33°C); Southwest monsoon approaches

Best Places: Passikudah, Trincomalee, Kandy, Adam's Peak

Activities: Early morning excursions, east coast beaches

Events: Sinhalese and Tamil New Year (mid-April)

WET SEASON (SOUTHWEST) / DRY SEASON (NORTHEAST)

May

Weather: SW Coast - Regular rainfall; NE Coast - Dry (28-31°C)
Best Places: Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Arugam Bay (early season)
Activities: East coast beaches, cultural tours, early surfing
Events: Vesak Poya with lantern displays nationwide

June

Weather: SW Coast - Heavy rainfall; NE Coast - Dry (27-30°C)
Best Places: Arugam Bay, Trincomalee, Jaffna, Minneriya
Activities: Surfing at Arugam Bay, wildlife viewing in eastern parks
Events: Poson Poya celebrations in Anuradhapura

July

Weather: SW Coast - Continued rain; NE Coast - Dry (27-30°C)
Best Places: Minneriya National Park, Arugam Bay, Jaffna Peninsula
Activities: "The Gathering" elephant migration begins, surfing
Events: Vel Festival, Kataragama Festival preparations

August

Weather: SW Coast - Decreasing rain; NE Coast - Dry (27-30°C)
Best Places: Kandy, Arugam Bay, Minneriya, eastern beaches
Activities: Kandy Esala Perahera, surfing (peak), wildlife safaris
Events: Kandy Esala Perahera (Sri Lanka's most spectacular festival)

TRANSITION PERIOD

September

Weather: Inter-monsoon period, improving conditions southwest (27-30°C)
Best Places: Arugam Bay (late season), Minneriya, Sigiriya, Colombo
Activities: Last surfing opportunities, wildlife viewing, cultural sites
Events: Binara Full Moon Poya Day

October

Weather: Unpredictable, southwest improving, northeast deteriorating
Best Places: Yala National Park, Bentota (late month), Kandy, the hill country
Activities: Wildlife viewing, early beach access in the southwest
Events: Vap Poya, Diwali/Deepavali in Tamil areas

November

Weather: SW Coast - Improving; NE Coast - Monsoon begins (27-29°C)
Best Places: Mirissa, Unawatuna, Udawalawe, Ella, Galle
Best Activities: Southwest beaches reopen, wildlife safaris, and the hill country
Events: The Full Moon Poya Day

Practical tips for planning your trip

Accommodation: Book accommodation in the southwest between December and March and in the east between May and August.
Budget planning: Prices for some things increase during high season and various festivals.
Clothing: Bring comfortable clothing for all weather conditions.
Scheduling: If you plan to participate in outdoor activities, schedule and do them for the morning whenever possible. (Year-round)

Best Times by Interest

Beach lovers

Southwest (Bentota, Mirissa, Unawatuna): December to April
East (Trincomalee, Pasikuda, Arugam Bay): May to September

Wildlife enthusiasts

Wildlife (Yala): February to July
Elephants (Minneriya): July to October for the "gathering"
Sloth bears (Wilpattu): May to September
Bird watching: January to March (resident species); October to April (migratory birds)

Cultural Explorers

Cultural Triangle: Year-round (most comfortable from December to March)
Festivals: Vesak (May), Esala Perahera (August), Sinhala New Year (April)
Pilgrimage: Peak Adam's Peak (December to May)

Adventure Seekers

Eastern Surfing (Arugam Bay): May to September (peak: June to August)
Southwestern Surfing: November to April
Hiking and Mountaineering: January to March and July to September
Whale Watching to the South: December to April
Whale Watching to the East: March to August

Summary of Sri Lanka's weather

Although Sri Lanka has a diverse climate, there are beautiful destinations that can be visited throughout the year, with favourable conditions available anywhere on the island. However, certain climatic disasters can sometimes disrupt traditional weather patterns. Therefore, it is essential to check the current and future weather conditions before planning your trip to Sri Lanka.

For the ultimate experience:

Southwest exploration: Plan your trip between December and March.
East Coast exploration: Plan your trip between May and September.
Whole Island exploration: Plan your trip between April and September/October.
Budget tours: Consider travelling during the shoulder seasons, which are typically April to May and September to October.

However, regardless of the type of trip you're looking for, Sri Lanka's weather won't hinder you from having a fantastic time with many unforgettable experiences on any trip.