Colombo Climate & Weather Averages
Sri Lanka · Tropical climate · Data averaged from 2020-01-01 to 2024-12-31 (5 years)
Best Time to Visit Colombo
Based on temperature comfort, low rainfall, and sunshine hours, the best months to visit Colombo are:
January, February, December
Scores based on ideal temperature (18-28°C), low precipitation, and high sunshine. January scores 57/100.
Colombo has a Tropical climate with hot summers and warm winters. The warmest month is April with an average temperature of 27.5°C (81.5°F), while November is the coldest at 25.7°C (78.3°F). Annual precipitation averages 2990.0mm spread across approximately 328.0 rainy days per year, with May being the wettest month at 439.5mm and February the driest at 40.7mm. The city receives an average of 7.5-11.1 hours of sunshine per day, with the sunniest months being February and March. Humidity remains relatively consistent throughout the year, averaging around 84.1% annually, while average wind speeds reach 17.2 km/h. The overall annual mean temperature is 26.7°C (80.1°F), reflecting the tropical conditions shaped by Colombo's latitude (6.93°) and surrounding geography. For travelers, the best time to visit is January, February, December, when temperatures are comfortable and rainfall is lower.
Colombo's tropical climate is warm and humid year-round, with two monsoon seasons. I've tracked the rainfall patterns and found that the city receives most of its rain from May to August and October to January. The best time for visiting is January to April, when the weather is drier and the coastal attractions are most enjoyable.
Seasonal Climate Overview
Spring (Mar-May)
Average temperature 27.4°C (81.3°F), rainfall 233.6mm, sunshine 9.9 hrs/day, humidity 83.3%. Warm season conditions prevail. Expect around 28.3 rainy days per month.
Summer (Jun-Aug)
Average temperature 26.9°C (80.4°F), rainfall 271.2mm, sunshine 9.5 hrs/day, humidity 85.4%. Warm season conditions prevail. Expect around 30.0 rainy days per month.
Autumn (Sep-Nov)
Average temperature 26.1°C (79.0°F), rainfall 372.3mm, sunshine 8.2 hrs/day, humidity 86.9%. Warm season conditions prevail. Expect around 29.8 rainy days per month.
Winter (Dec-Feb)
Average temperature 26.2°C (79.2°F), rainfall 119.5mm, sunshine 10.0 hrs/day, humidity 80.9%. Warm season conditions prevail. Expect around 21.1 rainy days per month.
Monthly Temperature Averages (°C / °F)
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Mean Temp |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30.1°C (86.2°F) | 22.7°C (72.9°F) | 25.9°C (78.6°F) |
| February | 31.3°C (88.3°F) | 23.2°C (73.8°F) | 26.8°C (80.2°F) |
| March | 31.0°C (87.8°F) | 24.0°C (75.2°F) | 27.3°C (81.1°F) |
| April | 30.9°C (87.6°F) | 24.6°C (76.3°F) | 27.5°C (81.5°F) |
| May | 29.7°C (85.5°F) | 25.5°C (77.9°F) | 27.4°C (81.3°F) |
| June | 29.0°C (84.2°F) | 25.3°C (77.5°F) | 27.1°C (80.8°F) |
| July | 28.7°C (83.7°F) | 25.3°C (77.5°F) | 26.9°C (80.4°F) |
| August | 28.6°C (83.5°F) | 25.1°C (77.2°F) | 26.7°C (80.1°F) |
| September | 28.5°C (83.3°F) | 24.7°C (76.5°F) | 26.5°C (79.7°F) |
| October | 28.5°C (83.3°F) | 24.2°C (75.6°F) | 26.2°C (79.2°F) |
| November | 28.8°C (83.8°F) | 23.3°C (73.9°F) | 25.7°C (78.3°F) |
| December | 29.5°C (85.1°F) | 23.1°C (73.6°F) | 25.9°C (78.6°F) |
Monthly Precipitation (mm)
| Month | Avg Rainfall | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 119.8 mm | |
| February | 40.7 mm | |
| March | 105.2 mm | |
| April | 156.0 mm | |
| May | 439.5 mm | |
| June | 306.6 mm | |
| July | 250.4 mm | |
| August | 256.6 mm | |
| September | 341.1 mm | |
| October | 365.1 mm | |
| November | 410.7 mm | |
| December | 198.0 mm |
Monthly Rainy Days (avg days with rain > 0.1mm)
| Month | Avg Rainy Days | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 20.4 | |
| February | 17.0 | |
| March | 25.4 | |
| April | 28.8 | |
| May | 30.8 | |
| June | 29.8 | |
| July | 30.0 | |
| August | 30.2 | |
| September | 30.0 | |
| October | 30.8 | |
| November | 28.6 | |
| December | 25.8 |
Monthly Humidity (%)
| Month | Avg Humidity | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 80.8% | |
| February | 77.3% | |
| March | 80.5% | |
| April | 83.5% | |
| May | 85.9% | |
| June | 85.4% | |
| July | 85.5% | |
| August | 85.2% | |
| September | 86.1% | |
| October | 86.9% | |
| November | 87.8% | |
| December | 84.5% |
Monthly Wind Speed (avg max km/h)
| Month | Avg Max Wind | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 15.4 km/h | |
| February | 17.3 km/h | |
| March | 15.4 km/h | |
| April | 14.0 km/h | |
| May | 19.0 km/h | |
| June | 19.7 km/h | |
| July | 20.1 km/h | |
| August | 19.6 km/h | |
| September | 19.3 km/h | |
| October | 17.2 km/h | |
| November | 14.4 km/h | |
| December | 15.0 km/h |
Monthly UV Index (avg max)
| Month | UV Index | Risk Level | Bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | — | — | |
| February | — | — | |
| March | — | — | |
| April | — | — | |
| May | — | — | |
| June | — | — | |
| July | — | — | |
| August | — | — | |
| September | — | — | |
| October | — | — | |
| November | — | — | |
| December | — | — |
Monthly Sunshine Hours (daily average)
| Month | Avg Daily Sunshine | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 10.0 hrs | |
| February | 11.1 hrs | |
| March | 10.8 hrs | |
| April | 10.5 hrs | |
| May | 8.3 hrs | |
| June | 9.5 hrs | |
| July | 9.3 hrs | |
| August | 9.6 hrs | |
| September | 8.6 hrs | |
| October | 8.4 hrs | |
| November | 7.5 hrs | |
| December | 8.9 hrs |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hottest month in Colombo?
April is the hottest month with an average temperature of 27.5°C (81.5°F).
What is the coldest month in Colombo?
November is the coldest month with an average temperature of 25.7°C (78.3°F).
What is the rainiest month in Colombo?
May is the wettest month with an average of 439.5mm of precipitation. The city experiences about 328.0 rainy days per year.
When is the best time to visit Colombo?
The best time to visit Colombo is during January, February, December, when temperatures are comfortable and rainfall is lower.
Cities with Similar Climate (Tropical)
Data Source: Open-Meteo historical archive (2020-01-01 to 2024-12-31). Daily measurements aggregated into monthly climate normals. Coordinates: 6.93°, 79.85°. Timezone: Asia/Colombo. Last updated: 2026-07-30.