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

Colombo, Sri Lanka JANUARY
27°
★★★
Peak season
23° to 32°
Coolest & Dry
The coolest month of the year, part of the best window for a visit.
☀️ Sunscreen✨ Best sightseeing weather
28°
★★★
Peak season
23° to 32°
Driest Month
The driest month of the year, still part of the best window.
☀️ Sunscreen✨ Best sightseeing weather
29°
★★★
Peak season
24° to 33°
Heat Builds
Still fairly dry, part of the best window into mid-month, with the heat building.
🥵 Heat protection☀️ Sunscreen
29°
★★★
Shoulder season
25° to 33°
First Rains
The first of two rainy periods sets in, hot and increasingly humid.
☔ Heavy rain gear🥵 Heat protection
29°
★★★
Off-peak season
26° to 32°
Hottest & Wet
The hottest month of the year, deep in the first rainy period.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
29°
★★★
Off-peak season
26° to 32°
Southwest Monsoon
Still very wet, as the southwest monsoon settles in.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
29°
★★★
Shoulder season
26° to 31°
Second Good Window
Rain becomes relatively rare, though the sea often runs rougher and the sun shines less.
🌊 Rougher seas possible☔ Umbrella handy
29°
★★★
Shoulder season
26° to 31°
Second Good Window
Still comparatively calm for rain, part of the secondary good window.
🌊 Rougher seas possible☔ Umbrella handy
28°
★★★
Shoulder season
26° to 31°
Second Rains Begin
The second rainy period sets in, hot and humid with rain a near-daily presence.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
28°
★★★
Off-peak season
24° to 31°
Wettest Month
The rainiest month of the year, deep in the second rainy period.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
28°
★★★
Shoulder season
24° to 31°
Deep Rains
Nearly as wet as October, with an added risk of passing cyclones.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
27°
★★★
Shoulder season
23° to 32°
Rains Ease
Rain eases by mid-month as the dry season approaches.
☔ Umbrella essential🥵 Heat protection
Drag through the year Jan
⭐️
Jan
⭐️
Feb
⭐️
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
This month
Rainfall
84 mm
6 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8 hrs/day
62% of daylight hours
Humidity
73%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
71 mm
5 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8.5 hrs/day
65% of daylight hours
Humidity
73%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
102 mm
7 rainy days this month
Sunshine
9 hrs/day
69% of daylight hours
Humidity
76%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
267 mm
13 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8 hrs/day
62% of daylight hours
Humidity
79%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
315 mm
17 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
81%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
203 mm
16 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
81%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
135 mm
11 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
80%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
119 mm
10 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
78%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
277 mm
16 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
396 mm
19 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
81%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
366 mm
17 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
81%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
173 mm
10 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
78%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 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: Jan, Feb, Mar
Colombo's dry season and the best time for a visit. January through late February or mid-March is historically the most reliable stretch, before the year's first rains and heat build.
🌤️
Shoulder season: Apr, Jul, Aug, Sep, Nov, Dec
This tier includes a second, quite good window, July and August, when rain is relatively rare, though the sun shines less and the sea often runs rough as the southwest monsoon wind picks up. March, April, September, November, and December round out this tier at various points in the transition between rains.
☔
Off-peak season: May, Jun, Oct
Colombo's two wettest peaks. May and June see the first rainy period reach its height, while October, the single wettest month of the year, anchors the second, longer rainy stretch that runs from September into mid-December.
Good to know
🏛️
Colombo isn't Sri Lanka's official capital
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, a nearby suburb, is the administrative capital, though Colombo remains the country's commercial, cultural, and legislative center.
🌊
Rain arrives in two separate waves
Colombo sees two distinct rainy periods, April to June and September to mid-December, rather than one single monsoon season.
☀️
July and August offer a second decent window
Rain is relatively rare during these months, though the sun shines less often and the sea tends to run rougher as the southwest monsoon wind picks up.
🌀
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.
🏗️
A major port city with deep colonial history
Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences remain visible across Colombo's old town and waterfront architecture.
Top attractions
1
Galle Face Green
A long oceanfront promenade in the heart of the city, popular in the evenings for street food, kite flying, and sunset views over the Indian Ocean.
2
Gangaramaya Temple
A working Buddhist temple blending Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, and Chinese architectural styles, with an eclectic museum of donated artifacts on site.
3
Pettah Market
A dense, bustling street market district near the old harbor, organized loosely by specialty street, from spices to electronics to textiles.
Frequently asked questions
When is monsoon season in Colombo?›
Colombo sees two separate rainy periods, April through June and September through mid-December, with October historically the wettest month, averaging around 396mm across 19 days.
What is the best time of year to visit Colombo?›
January through late February or mid-March is historically Colombo's dry season and the best time to visit.
What is the least favorable time to visit Colombo?›
May, June, and October are historically among the wettest months of the year.
Which month has the most rain in Colombo?›
October is historically the wettest month, averaging around 396mm of rain across 19 days.
Which month is the driest in Colombo?›
February is historically the driest month, averaging around 71mm of rain.
How hot does Colombo get?›
May is historically the hottest month of the year.
What should I pack for Colombo during the rainy season?›
An umbrella and rain gear are worth having from around April through June, and again from September through mid-December.
Is there a second good window in Colombo?›
Yes. July and August are historically a fairly good secondary window, with rarer rain, though the sun shines less and the sea is often rougher as the southwest monsoon wind picks up.
Is Colombo Sri Lanka's capital?›
Colombo is the country's legislative capital and largest city, though Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, a nearby suburb, is the official administrative capital.
Do cyclones affect Colombo?›
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.