When to go · Colombo
Colombo, month by month
The best months for Colombo: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec. Months to avoid: May, Jun, Oct.
Month by month
- JanuaryGreatDriest and coolest month for the west coast; warm all the same.30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 6 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 6 rain daysCrowds: High · 2 festivals or holidays
- FebruaryGreatDry and sunny; good month.31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 5 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 5 rain daysCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
- MarchGreatHot and humid; still mostly dry.31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 8 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 8 rain daysCrowds: Medium
- AprilMixedHot; Sinhala and Tamil New Year closures in mid-April; first storms.31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 13 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 13 rain daysCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
- MayAvoidSouth-west monsoon starts; heavy rain and flooding risk.30 °C (86 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 18 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 18 rain daysCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- JuneAvoidMonsoon: rain most days; rough sea.29 °C (84 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 17 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 17 rain daysCrowds: Low
- JulyMixedMonsoon easing; showers.29 °C (84 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 15 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 15 rain daysCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
- AugustMixedShowers; drier than June.29 °C (84 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 14 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 14 rain daysCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
- SeptemberMixedMixed; showers and storms.29 °C (84 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 15 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 15 rain daysCrowds: Low
- OctoberAvoidInter-monsoon thunderstorms; heavy afternoon rain.29 °C (84 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 18 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 18 rain daysCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- NovemberMixedStorms continue; rain in the afternoons.29 °C (84 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 15 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 15 rain daysCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- DecemberGreatDrier and slightly cooler; busy season.29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 12 rain daysCrowds: High · 3 festivals or holidays
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Colombo, side by side.
Verdict
Jan: Great
Feb: Great
Daytime high
Jan: 30 °C (86 °F)86 °F (30 °C)
Feb: 31 °C (88 °F)88 °F (31 °C)
Night low
Jan: 23 °C (73 °F)73 °F (23 °C)
Feb: 24 °C (75 °F)75 °F (24 °C)
Rain days
Jan: 6
Feb: 5 (better)
Crowds
Jan: High
Feb: High
Prices
Jan: High
Feb: High
Festivals listed
Jan: 2
Feb: 1
January: Driest and coolest month for the west coast; warm all the same.
February: Dry and sunny; good month.
Colombo: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
All twelve months in one grid — weather, crowds and prices, with gaps left as unknown.