Colombo, Sri Lanka Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Colombo
Colombo has one of the steadier climates in our dataset. Average highs move only 2°C across the whole year - from 84°F (29°C) in November to 88°F (31°C) in April - so the practical difference between seasons here is rainfall and daylight, not warmth.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: April - highs near 88°F (31°C)
- Coldest month: November - highs near 84°F (29°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 96°F (36°C) high · 65°F (18°C) low
- Wettest month: May (30 rainy days) · Sunniest: February (11.1 h sun/day)
- Climate type: tropical wet-and-dry
- Annual swing: 2°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 5°C
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 4
- Average humidity: 84%
Temperatures through the year
November sits at the other end of the year: 84°F (29°C) by day, 74°F (24°C) at night. Warmth peaks in April: highs of 88°F (31°C), lows of 77°F (25°C). The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 96°F (36°C) and bottoms at 65°F (18°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records. Relative humidity averages 84% across the year, more humid than 95% of the 3496 cities in our dataset - enough that summer afternoons feel hotter than the thermometer says, which is what the dew point converter is for.
Rain, sun and snow
The wettest month is May (16.5 inches (418 mm) across 30 days) and the driest February. Sunshine averages 9.5 hours a day over the year, peaking in February at 11.1 hours. Days and nights are about 5°C apart on average - narrower than all but 4% of the 3496 cities in our dataset. Average highs hold at or above 30°C for 4 months of the year, January through April being the unbroken run.
How Colombo compares
- Annual precipitation is 111.6 inches (2836 mm) - wetter than 97% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Rain or snow reaches the ground on 280 days a year - more wet days than 97% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Its warmest and coolest months are 2°C apart - a steadier year than all but 4% of the 3496 cities we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 87° | 73° | 11 | 3.1 in | 10.5 h/day | 11.8 h | 37% | 77% |
| February | 88° | 74° | 11 | 2.1 in | 11.1 h/day | 11.9 h | 38% | 76% |
| March | 88° | 76° | 18 | 4.2 in | 10.9 h/day | 12.1 h | 57% | 80% |
| April | 88° | 77° | 25 | 6.2 in | 10.4 h/day | 12.3 h | 83% | 83% |
| May | 85° | 78° | 30 | 16.5 in | 8.4 h/day | 12.4 h | 96% | 86% |
| June | 84° | 78° | 29 | 12.2 in | 9.5 h/day | 12.5 h | 97% | 86% |
| July | 84° | 78° | 28 | 8.8 in | 9.8 h/day | 12.5 h | 89% | 85% |
| August | 83° | 77° | 28 | 9.5 in | 9.7 h/day | 12.3 h | 91% | 86% |
| September | 83° | 77° | 28 | 11.6 in | 8.8 h/day | 12.1 h | 92% | 86% |
| October | 83° | 76° | 29 | 15.4 in | 8.2 h/day | 12.0 h | 94% | 87% |
| November | 84° | 74° | 25 | 15.4 in | 7.7 h/day | 11.8 h | 83% | 88% |
| December | 85° | 74° | 18 | 6.7 in | 9.2 h/day | 11.7 h | 59% | 84% |
Colombo month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Colombo's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 10.5 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
February
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 11.1 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
March
- Rain
- 18 days
- Sunshine
- 10.9 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
April
- Rain
- 25 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
May
- Rain
- 30 days
- Sunshine
- 8.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
June
- Rain
- 29 days
- Sunshine
- 9.5 h
- Daylight
- 12.5 h
July
- Rain
- 28 days
- Sunshine
- 9.8 h
- Daylight
- 12.5 h
August
- Rain
- 28 days
- Sunshine
- 9.7 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
September
- Rain
- 28 days
- Sunshine
- 8.8 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
October
- Rain
- 29 days
- Sunshine
- 8.2 h
- Daylight
- 12.0 h
November
- Rain
- 25 days
- Sunshine
- 7.7 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
December
- Rain
- 18 days
- Sunshine
- 9.2 h
- Daylight
- 11.7 h
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Colombo
March through May
March through May is hot here - highs near 87°F (31°C), nights near 77°F (25°C), and rain falls on around 72 of the 90 days.
June through August
Through June through August, Colombo brings hot afternoons: 84°F (29°C) by day, 77°F (25°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 85 of the 90 days.
September through November
September through November brings hot afternoons here - highs near 84°F (29°C), nights near 76°F (24°C), and rain falls on around 82 of the 90 days.
December through February
December through February sits firmly in the heat here - highs near 87°F (30°C), nights near 74°F (23°C), and rain falls on around 40 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.3 hours of sun a day.
Climate questions, answered
Is Colombo humid?
What should I pack for Colombo?
What is the average temperature in Colombo?
How much sun does Colombo get?
Best time to visit Colombo
The best time to visit Colombo is generally June to September and January to February, when humidity and rainfall are at their lowest, which is what actually varies here. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 85°F (29°C), with rain on about 22 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in June.
Pack for Colombo with light clothing for the warm months, proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here and moisture-wicking fabrics for the humidity. April nights average 77°F (25°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.
Colombo temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.