The best times to visit Colombo for ideal weather are

January 1st to March 11th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Colombo Travel Info

Weather in Colombo

Temperature

Average temperatures in Colombo vary barely at all. Considering humidity, temperatures feel hot all year with a chance of rain throughout most of the year. The area is far less temperate than some — in the 4th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Colombo, the hottest months are May, June, and then April. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally early to mid May where highs are regularly around 89.6°F (32°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 79.2°F (26.2°C) at night.

Colombo Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Colombo Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Colombo Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Colombo Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Colombo Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 87.9 80 73.8
Feb 88.4 81 74.8
Mar 89.2 82.4 76.4
Apr 89.1 82.7 77.1
May 88.6 83.9 79.7
Jun 87.2 82.8 79
Jul 86.6 82.3 79
Aug 86.7 82.1 78.6
Sep 86.6 81.9 77.9
Oct 86.9 81.3 76.7
Nov 87 80.4 75.2
Dec 86.8 79.9 74.6

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 31.1 26.7 23.2
Feb 31.3 27.2 23.8
Mar 31.8 28 24.7
Apr 31.7 28.2 25.1
May 31.4 28.8 26.5
Jun 30.7 28.2 26.1
Jul 30.3 27.9 26.1
Aug 30.4 27.8 25.9
Sep 30.3 27.7 25.5
Oct 30.5 27.4 24.8
Nov 30.6 26.9 24
Dec 30.4 26.6 23.7

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Colombo are January, February, and then March. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around late January. For example, on the week of January 22nd there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late October to early November with an average of 5 days of significant precipitation the week of October 29th.

When can you find snow in Colombo? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Colombo.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Colombo (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 13% 0 3
Feb 14% 0 3.2
Mar 24% 0 7.7
Apr 38% 0 13.5
May 35% 0 10.6
Jun 41% 0 8.2
Jul 24% 0 3.8
Aug 26% 0 4.8
Sep 45% 0 9.8
Oct 46% 0 10.4
Nov 45% 0 13.9
Dec 30% 0 9.4

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 13 0 7.6
Feb 14 0 8.1
Mar 24 0 19.6
Apr 38 0 34.3
May 35 0 26.9
Jun 41 0 20.8
Jul 24 0 9.7
Aug 26 0 12.2
Sep 45 0 24.9
Oct 46 0 26.4
Nov 45 0 35.3
Dec 30 0 23.9

 

Humidity and Wind

Colombo has some very humid months, and above average humidity throughout the year. The least humid month is January (68.9% relative humidity), and the most humid month is November (78.5%).

Wind in Colombo is usually extremely calm. The windiest month is May, followed by June and July. May’s average wind speed of around 3.5 knots (4 MPH or 6.4 KPH) is considered “light air.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in late May where average top sustained speeds reach 8.2 knots, which is considered a gentle breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Colombo.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 3.1 Barely noticeable 6.1 Light breeze
Feb 2.5 Barely noticeable 5.6 Light breeze
Mar 2.1 Barely noticeable 4.9 Light breeze
Apr 2.1 Barely noticeable 4.8 Light breeze
May 3.5 Barely noticeable 6.6 Light breeze
Jun 3.4 Barely noticeable 6.3 Light breeze
Jul 3.2 Barely noticeable 5.8 Light breeze
Aug 3.2 Barely noticeable 5.9 Light breeze
Sep 2.9 Barely noticeable 5.6 Light breeze
Oct 2.1 Barely noticeable 5 Light breeze
Nov 1.9 Barely noticeable 4.5 Light breeze
Dec 2.6 Barely noticeable 5.3 Light breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 68.9%
Feb 70.7%
Mar 72.7%
Apr 76.7%
May 76.8%
Jun 78.4%
Jul 76.8%
Aug 76.9%
Sep 77.9%
Oct 78.4%
Nov 78.5%
Dec 76%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Colombo?

Our best data indicates this area is somewhat safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are travel warnings for Sri Lanka; exercise a high degree of caution. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Oct 26, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Colombo, Sri Lanka is December, followed by October and August. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Colombo in June. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is somewhat extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 51.7 in June means 51.7% of the tourists vs. December.

 

 

Overall Colombo Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel warm. Highs range from 89.6°F (32°C) and 87.4°F (30.8°C) with similar temperatures in the later months. Rain is very common with 7 to 12 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the slowest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for deals.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are quite warm. These months see moderate precipitation with 8 to 12 days of precipitation per month. June – August is fairly slow season for tourism in Colombo, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly less.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 87.5°F (30.8°C) and 86.1°F (30.1°C), which will feel very nice given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a great amount: 13 to 14 days per month. Tourism is the second busiest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be slightly higher priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is perfect this time of year in Colombo to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 89.4°F (31.9°C) and 86.4°F (30.2°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 4 to 9 times per month. These times of year are the busiest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› Sri Lanka › Colombo, Sri Lanka