Climate & Weather
Essential Information For Sri Lanka
There are wide variations in climate, but they are not seasonal. Like the rains, they are provided by the mountains. The higher you go, the cooler it gets, so you can pick your climate with your altitude. The average daytime temperature in the lowlands (100m to 150m above mean sea level) is 28°C, with the only respite at these lower altitudes being the sea breezes. It gets even hotter in the Cultural Triangle (ancient cities' area), but without the help of a cooling breeze. At Nuwara Eliya, in the upper Hill Country, the weather is a permanent warm springtime, averaging 16°C. Due to its altitude of 1900m, Nuwara Eliya gets decidedly cooler at night and has even experienced an occasional light frost, which is dreaded for the damage it does to the tea plants. Lower down in the Hill Country, at Kandy (500m), a Mediterranean summer reigns all year round, with average temperatures of 25°C.
Sri Lanka experiences two monsoons every year, although different regions of the island are affected. The southwest monsoon (Yala) brings rain to the southwest coast and the Hill Country from May to September, and the northeast monsoon (Maha) can affect the whole country, but particularly the north and east, from December to February. Even during the monsoon season the weather rarely manifests itself as long, dreary days of endless rain. Rather, the rain comes in short, heavy bursts, followed by sunshine and the temperature is consistently warm. The overcast sky tempers the heat of the sun, but not the strength of its rays, so it is still possible to get a good tan. However, during this period the sea is often too rough for swimming on the side of the island affected by the monsoon wind.
The coastal regions have humidity levels above 70% for most of the year. In the southwest it is rare for levels to fall below 80%, which can be very uncomfortable. However, sea breezes often bring some relief on the coast itself.
