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.
Colombo Travel Guide
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)
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Colombo Temperatures (Celsius)
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“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)
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Colombo Perceived Temperature (C)
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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) |
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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) |
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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.
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Snow on the Ground
The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Colombo (in).
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Average Rain and Snow by Month
Show Inches
Month | Daily Chance of Rain | Average Snow Depth (in) | Total Precipitation (in) |
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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.
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Wind
The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.
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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 |
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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
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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