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

Mannar, Sri Lanka JANUARY
27°
★★★
Shoulder season
23° to 32°
Coolest & Dry
The coolest month of the year, comparatively calm for rain.
☀️ Sunscreen✨ Best sightseeing weather
27°
★★★
Peak season
23° to 32°
Driest of the Best
One of the driest months of the year, dry and comfortable.
☀️ Sunscreen✨ Best sightseeing weather
29°
★★★
Shoulder season
25° to 34°
Heat Builds
Still fairly dry, with the hot season beginning to set in.
🥵 Heat protection☀️ Sunscreen
29°
★★★
Shoulder season
25° to 34°
Rain Ticks Up
Rain increases somewhat as the heat builds toward its yearly peak.
☔ Umbrella handy🥵 Heat protection
30°
★★★
Shoulder season
26° to 35°
Hottest Month
The hottest month of the year on average, rain easing back somewhat.
🥵 Heat protection☀️ Sunscreen
29°
★★★
Shoulder season
25° to 34°
Driest Month
The driest month of the year by far, hot and dry with breezier conditions.
🥵 Heat protection☀️ Sunscreen
29°
★★★
Peak season
25° to 34°
Second Dry Peak
Among the driest months of the year, part of a second good window for a visit.
🥵 Heat protection☀️ Sunscreen
29°
★★★
Peak season
25° to 34°
Dry & Hot
Still very dry, rounding out the second good window.
🥵 Heat protection☀️ Sunscreen
29°
★★★
Shoulder season
25° to 34°
Still Fairly Dry
Rain ticks up a little as the year moves toward its wettest stretch.
🥵 Heat protection☀️ Sunscreen
28°
★★★
Off-peak season
24° to 33°
Monsoon Arrives
Rain increases sharply as the northeast monsoon sets in.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
27°
★★★
Off-peak season
23° to 32°
Wettest Month
The rainiest month of the year by a wide margin, with an added risk of passing cyclones.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
27°
★★★
Off-peak season
23° to 32°
Deep Monsoon
Still very wet, closing out the year's rainiest stretch.
☔ 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
53 mm
5 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8 hrs/day
62% of daylight hours
Humidity
80%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
13 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
28 mm
3 rainy days this month
Sunshine
9 hrs/day
69% of daylight hours
Humidity
77%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
36 mm
4 rainy days this month
Sunshine
9.5 hrs/day
73% of daylight hours
Humidity
71%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
89 mm
7 rainy days this month
Sunshine
9 hrs/day
69% of daylight hours
Humidity
75%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
61 mm
4 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8 hrs/day
62% of daylight hours
Humidity
77%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
13 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
5 mm
2 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
8 mm
2 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
13 mm
2 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
53 mm
3 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
165 mm
10 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
257 mm
14 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
178 mm
11 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: Feb, Jul, Aug
Mannar's driest stretch. February, and again July and August, are historically the calmest months for rain in this island city, sheltered from the direct southwest monsoon by neighboring India.
🌤️
Shoulder season: Jan, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep
This tier spans the rest of the year outside the true wet and dry extremes, January, March through June, and September, when the year's heat gradually builds.
☔
Off-peak season: Oct, Nov, Dec
Mannar's wettest stretch. October through December sees the heaviest, most concentrated rain of the year, with November historically the wettest month by a wide margin.
Good to know
🌉
Connected to the mainland by a causeway
Mannar Island sits just off the northwest coast, linked to mainland Sri Lanka by a road and rail causeway across the lagoon.
🌳
Home to centuries-old baobab trees
These distinctive trees, brought by Arab traders centuries ago, are among the oldest of their kind found in Sri Lanka.
🌉
Near Adam's Bridge
This chain of limestone shoals stretches from Mannar Island toward India, visible at low tide and steeped in local legend.
🌏
Sheltered from the southwest monsoon by India
Mannar's position in Sri Lanka's northwest puts it in the shadow of neighboring India, which blocks much of the direct rain from the southwest monsoon that soaks the rest of the island.
🌀
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
Mannar Fort
A small Dutch-built coastal fort near the harbor, offering a quiet look at the island's colonial-era past.
2
Mannar Baobab Tree
A centuries-old baobab, brought by Arab traders long ago, among the oldest and largest of its kind in Sri Lanka.
3
Adam's Bridge (Talaimannar)
A chain of limestone shoals visible at low tide near Talaimannar Pier, stretching out toward India across the strait.
Frequently asked questions
When is monsoon season in Mannar?›
Mannar's heaviest rain historically falls from October through December, with November the wettest month, averaging around 257mm across 14 days.
What is the best time of year to visit Mannar?›
February, and again July and August, are historically Mannar's driest, calmest windows for a visit.
What is the least favorable time to visit Mannar?›
October through December is historically the wettest, most concentrated rainy stretch of the year.
Which month has the most rain in Mannar?›
November is historically the wettest month, averaging around 257mm of rain across 14 days.
Which month is the driest in Mannar?›
June is historically the driest month, averaging around 5mm of rain.
How hot does Mannar get?›
May is historically the hottest month of the year on average.
What should I pack for Mannar during the rainy season?›
Rain gear is worth having from around October through December, and sun protection is worth packing year-round given the heat.
Why is Mannar drier than much of Sri Lanka?›
Mannar's position in Sri Lanka's northwest puts it in the shadow of neighboring India, which blocks much of the direct rain from the southwest monsoon that soaks the rest of the island.
Is Adam's Bridge near Mannar?›
Yes. This chain of limestone shoals stretches from Mannar Island toward India, visible at low tide and steeped in local legend.
Do cyclones affect Mannar?›
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.