Is It Monsoon in Badulla, Sri Lanka? Rainfall and Weather by Month

Badulla, Sri Lanka JANUARY
22°
★★★
Shoulder season
18° to 26°
Cool & Showery
Cool by local standards, with moderate rain typical of the shoulder months.
☔ Umbrella handy🧥 Light layers for evenings
22°
★★★
Shoulder season
18° to 27°
Second Good Window
Part of a second favorable stretch, with rain noticeably lighter than January.
☀️ Sunscreen✨ Best sightseeing weather
24°
★★★
Shoulder season
18° to 29°
Dry & Pleasant
Still part of the second favorable window, mild and comparatively dry.
☀️ Sunscreen✨ Best sightseeing weather
25°
★★★
Shoulder season
19° to 31°
Rain Builds
Rain picks back up as the sun passes overhead, among the wetter shoulder months.
☔ Umbrella essential🥵 Heat protection
25°
★★★
Shoulder season
19° to 31°
Warmest Month
The warmest month of the year on average, with rain still a regular presence.
☔ Umbrella handy🥵 Heat protection
25°
★★★
Peak season
19° to 31°
Driest Month
The driest month of the year, part of the summer dry stretch.
☀️ Sunscreen✨ Best sightseeing weather
25°
★★★
Peak season
19° to 31°
Dry & Comfortable
Still dry, part of the summer southwest monsoon window.
☀️ Sunscreen✨ Best sightseeing weather
25°
★★★
Peak season
19° to 31°
Dry Stretch Continues
Still comparatively dry, rounding out the summer window.
☀️ Sunscreen✨ Best sightseeing weather
25°
★★★
Shoulder season
19° to 31°
Rain Builds
Rain ticks up as the year moves toward its wettest stretch.
☔ Umbrella handy🥵 Heat protection
24°
★★★
Off-peak season
19° to 29°
Monsoon Arrives
Rain increases sharply as the northeast monsoon sets in.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
23°
★★★
Off-peak season
19° to 27°
Wettest Month
The rainiest month of the year, with rain on more days than any other month.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
22°
★★★
Off-peak season
18° to 26°
Deep Monsoon
Still very wet, closing out the year's worst rainy period.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
Drag through the year Jan
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
⭐️
Jun
⭐️
Jul
⭐️
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
This month
Rainfall
183 mm
12 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7.5 hrs/day
58% of daylight hours
Humidity
80%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
13 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
102 mm
8 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8.5 hrs/day
65% of daylight hours
Humidity
77%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
89 mm
7 rainy days this month
Sunshine
9 hrs/day
69% of daylight hours
Humidity
71%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
183 mm
13 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8.5 hrs/day
65% of daylight hours
Humidity
75%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
119 mm
10 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7.5 hrs/day
58% of daylight hours
Humidity
77%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
13 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
51 mm
5 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
74%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
18 km/h
Noticeable breeze
Rainfall
53 mm
5 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
72%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
14 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
71 mm
6 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
73%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
14 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
107 mm
9 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
73%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
13 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
241 mm
15 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
79%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
287 mm
19 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6 hrs/day
46% of daylight hours
Humidity
85%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
269 mm
17 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
85%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
13 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
★★★ peak season, ★★☆ decent shoulder months, ★☆☆ true off-peak, based on rain frequency, heat, and haze.
Seasons at a glance
🌟
Peak season: Jun, Jul, Aug
Badulla's driest stretch, during the summer southwest monsoon. June through August sees the least rain of the year, in this hill-country city that never gets a truly dry spell.
🌤️
Shoulder season: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep
This tier spans a second good window, February and March, plus the shoulder months on either side, January, April, May, and September, all comparatively moderate for rain.
☔
Off-peak season: Oct, Nov, Dec
Badulla's wettest stretch, during the northeast monsoon. October through December sees the heaviest, most sustained rain of the year, with November historically the wettest month.
Good to know
🚂
The end of one of the world's most scenic train rides
Badulla is the final stop on the Kandy-Ella-Badulla railway, a route famous for winding through tea plantations and hill country.
🍵
Surrounded by tea country
Badulla sits in Sri Lanka's Uva Province, one of the country's premier tea-growing regions, with plantations covering the surrounding hills.
💦
Dunhinda Falls is a short trip away
One of Sri Lanka's most impressive waterfalls, reached by a short walk through forest just outside the city.
⛰️
Altitude keeps Badulla cooler than the coast
At 680 meters elevation, Badulla historically runs several degrees cooler than Sri Lanka's coastal cities year-round.
🌀
Cyclones can occasionally affect Sri Lanka
The island is usually affected by tropical cyclones in November and December, and more rarely in May, when storms forming in the Bay of Bengal can bring heavy rain.
Top attractions
1
Dunhinda Falls
One of Sri Lanka's most impressive waterfalls, reached by an easy forest walk from a car park just outside the city.
2
Kandy-Ella-Badulla Railway
A slow, scenic train route through tea estates and misty hills, considered one of the world's most beautiful rail journeys, ending in Badulla.
3
Muthiyangana Raja Maha Vihara
One of Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist temples, said to date back over 2,000 years, at the heart of the city.
Frequently asked questions
When is monsoon season in Badulla?›
Badulla's heaviest rain historically falls from October through December, with November the wettest month, averaging around 287mm across 19 days.
What is the best time of year to visit Badulla?›
February, March, and the summer stretch from June to August are historically Badulla's driest windows, though this hill-country city is genuinely wet most of the year.
What is the least favorable time to visit Badulla?›
October through December is historically the wettest, most sustained rainy stretch of the year.
Which month has the most rain in Badulla?›
November is historically the wettest month, averaging around 287mm of rain across 19 days.
Which month is the driest in Badulla?›
June is historically the driest month, averaging around 51mm of rain.
How hot does Badulla get?›
May is historically the warmest month on average, though Badulla stays comparatively mild year-round thanks to its altitude.
What should I pack for Badulla during the rainy season?›
Rain gear is worth having year-round in Badulla, and warm layers are worth packing for cool hill-country evenings.
Is Badulla cooler than the coast?›
Yes. At 680 meters elevation, Badulla historically runs several degrees cooler than Sri Lanka's coastal cities year-round.
Do cyclones affect Badulla?›
Occasionally. Sri Lanka is usually affected by tropical cyclones in November and December, and more rarely in May, when storms forming in the Bay of Bengal can bring heavy rain.
Is Badulla known for its train journey?›
Yes. Badulla is the final stop on one of the world's most scenic train rides, winding through tea plantations and hill country from Kandy or Ella.