The best times to visit Nuwara Eliya for ideal weather are

July 9th to September 23rd

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

 

 


Other Nuwara Eliya Travel Info

Weather in Nuwara Eliya

Temperature

Average temperatures in Nuwara Eliya vary very little. Considering humidity, temperatures feel very enjoyable all year with a chance of rain or snow throughout most of the year. The area is more temperate than most — in the 69th 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 Nuwara Eliya, the hottest months are May, April, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally late May where highs are regularly around 72.3°F (22.4°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 57.2°F (14°C) at night.

Nuwara Eliya Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Nuwara Eliya 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.

Nuwara Eliya Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Nuwara Eliya Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Nuwara Eliya 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 67.8 58.7 50.3
Feb 69.6 59.6 50.5
Mar 71.5 61.2 51.6
Apr 71.9 62.3 54
May 71.4 62.9 56
Jun 66.9 61.2 57.1
Jul 65.8 60.5 56.5
Aug 67.2 60.7 56.3
Sep 67.6 60.7 55.5
Oct 68.7 60.8 54.3
Nov 68.1 60.4 53.6
Dec 66.6 59.7 53.4

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 19.9 14.8 10.2
Feb 20.9 15.3 10.3
Mar 21.9 16.2 10.9
Apr 22.2 16.8 12.2
May 21.9 17.2 13.3
Jun 19.4 16.2 13.9
Jul 18.8 15.8 13.6
Aug 19.6 15.9 13.5
Sep 19.8 15.9 13.1
Oct 20.4 16 12.4
Nov 20.1 15.8 12
Dec 19.2 15.4 11.9

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Nuwara Eliya are February, March, and then January. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around mid February. For example, on the week of February 19th there is 1 day of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in mid October with an average of 4 days of significant precipitation the week of October 15th.

When can you find snow in Nuwara Eliya? 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 Nuwara Eliya.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Nuwara Eliya (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 23% 0 4.9
Feb 18% 0 3.9
Mar 20% 0 3.6
Apr 32% 0 6.1
May 28% 0 5.6
Jun 37% 0 7.3
Jul 34% 0 5
Aug 28% 0 4
Sep 38% 0 5.7
Oct 50% 0 10.1
Nov 46% 0 8.5
Dec 45% 0 9.8

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 23 0 12.4
Feb 18 0 9.9
Mar 20 0 9.1
Apr 32 0 15.5
May 28 0 14.2
Jun 37 0 18.5
Jul 34 0 12.7
Aug 28 0 10.2
Sep 38 0 14.5
Oct 50 0 25.7
Nov 46 0 21.6
Dec 45 0 24.9

 

Humidity and Wind

Nuwara Eliya has some extremely humid months, and above average humidity throughout the year. The least humid month is March (67.2% relative humidity), and the most humid month is July (85.1%).

Wind in Nuwara Eliya is usually calm. The windiest month is June, followed by July and August. June’s average wind speed of around 8.7 knots (10.1 MPH or 16.2 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in mid June where average top sustained speeds reach 14.9 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

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

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 2.9 Barely noticeable 6.1 Light breeze
Feb 2.7 Barely noticeable 6.1 Light breeze
Mar 2.5 Barely noticeable 5.4 Light breeze
Apr 1.7 Barely noticeable 4.4 Light breeze
May 3.2 Barely noticeable 5.8 Light breeze
Jun 8.7 Gentle breeze 12.5 Significant breeze
Jul 8.6 Gentle breeze 12.7 Light breeze
Aug 6.1 Light breeze 9.4 Gentle breeze
Sep 5.6 Light breeze 8.7 Light breeze
Oct 3 Barely noticeable 5.9 Light breeze
Nov 2.4 Barely noticeable 5.2 Light breeze
Dec 3.1 Barely noticeable 6.2 Light breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 76.9%
Feb 69.2%
Mar 67.2%
Apr 78.5%
May 80.8%
Jun 84.6%
Jul 85.1%
Aug 84.1%
Sep 83.7%
Oct 83.8%
Nov 84.5%
Dec 84.7%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Nuwara Eliya?

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 Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka is July, followed by August and January. 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 Nuwara Eliya in March. 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 slightly extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 81.4 in March means 81.4% of the tourists vs. July.

 

 

Overall Nuwara Eliya Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderate. Highs range from 72.3°F (22.4°C) and 69.4°F (20.8°C) with similar temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 6 to 10 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 comfortably cool weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see moderate precipitation with 9 to 11 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Nuwara Eliya, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 69.7°F (20.9°C) and 66.4°F (19.1°C), which will feel comfortable given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a great amount: 12 to 16 days per month. Tourism is fairly slow during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be lower priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is somewhat cool this time of year in Nuwara Eliya to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 70.8°F (21.6°C) and 65°F (18.3°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 5 to 14 times per month. These times of year are the second busiest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› Sri Lanka › Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka