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

Puttalam, Sri Lanka JANUARY
26°
★★★
Peak season
22° to 30°
Coolest & Calm
The coolest month of the year, part of the best window for a calm beach holiday.
☀️ Sunscreen✨ Best sightseeing weather
27°
★★★
Shoulder season
23° to 31°
Driest of the Best
Among the driest months of the year, still part of the recommended window.
☀️ Sunscreen✨ Best sightseeing weather
28°
★★★
Peak season
24° to 32°
Heat Builds
Still part of the best window, though the heat starts climbing fast from here.
🥵 Heat protection☀️ Sunscreen
29°
★★★
Shoulder season
25° to 33°
Rain Can Build
Very hot, and in some years rain picks up noticeably around this time.
☔ Umbrella handy🥵 Heat protection
30°
★★★
Shoulder season
26° to 34°
Hottest Month
The hottest month of the year on average, with rain easing back from April.
🥵 Heat protection☀️ Sunscreen
29°
★★★
Shoulder season
25° to 33°
Windy & Dry
Rain is rare, though the sea often runs rough and windy, popular for kitesurfing.
🌊 Rougher seas possible🥵 Heat protection
29°
★★★
Peak season
25° to 33°
Driest of the Year
One of the driest months of the year, still windy with rougher seas.
🌊 Rougher seas possible🥵 Heat protection
29°
★★★
Shoulder season
25° to 33°
Windy & Dry
Still very dry and windy, rounding out the kitesurfing season.
🌊 Rougher seas possible🥵 Heat protection
29°
★★★
Shoulder season
25° to 33°
Rain Builds
Rain ticks up as the year moves toward its wettest stretch.
☔ Umbrella handy🥵 Heat protection
28°
★★★
Off-peak season
24° to 32°
Monsoon Arrives
Rain increases sharply as the northeast monsoon sets in.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
27°
★★★
Off-peak season
23° to 31°
Wettest Month
The rainiest month of the year, and the month of a notably severe flood event in 2021.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
26°
★★★
Off-peak season
22° to 30°
Deep Monsoon
Still part of the year's worst rainy stretch by the source's own account.
☔ 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
51 mm
6 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
43 mm
4 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
56 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
155 mm
10 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
102 mm
6 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
33 mm
4 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
23 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
23 mm
3 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
69 mm
6 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
231 mm
13 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
254 mm
15 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
145 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: Jan, Mar, Jul
Puttalam's best window for a calm beach holiday. Mid-January through March is historically the most reliable stretch, before the heat and rain both start to build.
🌤️
Shoulder season: Feb, Apr, May, Jun, Aug, Sep
This tier spans the rest of the year outside the true wet and dry extremes, February, April through September, including a windier mid-year stretch, June through August, when rain is rare but the sea often runs rough, popular with kitesurfers.
☔
Off-peak season: Oct, Nov, Dec
Puttalam's wettest stretch. October through December sees the heaviest, most sustained rain of the year, with November historically the wettest month.
Good to know
🏝️
The Kalpitiya peninsula separates the lagoon from the sea
Puttalam Lagoon sits sheltered behind the Kalpitiya peninsula, giving the town calmer waters than the open coast.
🪁
A popular kitesurfing destination
Rain is rare from around June through August, but the sea often runs rough and windy during this stretch, drawing kitesurfers to the Kalpitiya area.
🌊
November 2021 brought significant flooding
Puttalam experienced notably severe flooding in November 2021, a reminder that the historically wettest months can occasionally bring more extreme rain events.
🧂
Known for its salt production
Puttalam's coastal salterns have long been one of Sri Lanka's main sources of salt, a distinctive feature of the local landscape.
🐆
Near Wilpattu National Park
Sri Lanka's largest national park, known for leopards and a landscape of natural lakes, sits a short drive from Puttalam.
Top attractions
1
Kalpitiya Peninsula
A narrow spit of land separating Puttalam Lagoon from the open sea, popular for kitesurfing and dolphin-watching boat trips.
2
Wilpattu National Park
Sri Lanka's largest national park, known for leopards, sloth bears, and a distinctive landscape of natural sand-rimmed lakes.
3
Puttalam Lagoon & Salterns
A sheltered coastal lagoon lined with historic salt pans, offering quiet views across calm, shallow water.
Frequently asked questions
When is monsoon season in Puttalam?›
Puttalam's heaviest rain historically falls from October through December, with November the wettest month, averaging around 254mm across 15 days.
What is the best time of year to visit Puttalam?›
Mid-January through March is historically Puttalam's best window for a calm beach holiday, before the heat and rain both build.
What is the least favorable time to visit Puttalam?›
October through December is historically the wettest, most sustained rainy stretch of the year, and has occasionally brought severe flooding, as in November 2021.
Which month has the most rain in Puttalam?›
November is historically the wettest month, averaging around 254mm of rain across 15 days.
Which month is the driest in Puttalam?›
July and August are historically tied as the driest months, each averaging around 23mm of rain.
How hot does Puttalam get?›
May is historically the hottest month of the year on average.
What should I pack for Puttalam during the rainy season?›
Rain gear is worth having from around October through December.
Is Puttalam good for kitesurfing?›
Yes. Rain is rare from around June through August, but the sea often runs rough and windy during this stretch, drawing kitesurfers to the nearby Kalpitiya area.
Did Puttalam experience flooding recently?›
Puttalam experienced notably severe flooding in November 2021, a reminder that the historically wettest months can occasionally bring more extreme rain events.
Is Wilpattu National Park near Puttalam?›
Yes. Sri Lanka's largest national park, known for leopards and a landscape of natural lakes, sits a short drive from Puttalam.