Climate Insights for Colombo

The climate in Colombo is warm and mild. The average annual temperature is 19°C and approximately 1282mm of precipitation falls per year. Colombo receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Colombo is in the Southern Hemisphere. The seasons are reversed — summer runs from December to February, while winter falls between June and August. The summer months are: January, February, December. The coldest months are July, June, August, when temperatures can drop to 10°C.

Colombo sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 10°C to 27°C. The warmest month is January, when average highs reach 27°C and the mean temperature sits around 22°C. July is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 10°C and an average of 14°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 9°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between April and May, with a 3°C shift in average temperatures.

Colombo is a fairly wet location, receiving approximately 1282mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 107mm per month. The wettest month is January, averaging 174mm of rainfall. December and October also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is July, with just 49mm. That's 125mm less than January, the wettest month. Precipitation varies noticeably between seasons, with the second half (July to December) of the year generally seeing more rainfall.

Colombo is mildly breezy, with an average annual wind speed of 12km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is October, averaging 14km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in March, with average winds dropping to 11km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 3km/h between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently autumn in Colombo, which began on March 20, 2026. Colombo is in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed — spring starts in September, summer in December, autumn in March, and winter in June. The warmest period peaks in January at around 27°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in July near 10°C. Winter is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 89 days from now.

The best time to visit Colombo is during April, May, August and September, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 17°C with modest rainfall averaging 78mm per month. By contrast, January can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 27°C, while July is the coldest period with lows dropping to 10°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely — pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Colombo based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.