Colombo weather in May (Colombo District, Sri Lanka)

What can you expect from the weather in Colombo during May? This guide provides all the details you need.

In May, Colombo typically experiences very high temperatures and heavy rainfall. Daytime temperatures hover around 31°C, while nights can cool down to about 26°C. Keep in mind, these temperatures are averages, and some days might be even warmer. Dress suitably to manage the heat.

Colombo in May falls under the rainy season with heavy rainfall, averaging around 294 mm for the month. Typically around 14 days of rainfall is expected.

With around 202 hours of sunshine, the days are mostly sunny. It gives a pleasant and vibrant feel to the area.

If you're looking for dry conditions and comfortable temperatures, May may not be the ideal month to visit Colombo. January, February and March typically offer the most agreeable circumstances. On the other hand, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November tend to be characterized by conditions that may not be as optimal.

For an in-depth look at the yearly conditions, visit our specialized Colombo climate page with graphs.

 

Colombo, monthly averages in May

Min TemperatureMin Temperature 26°C  
Max TemperatureMax Temperature 31°C  
Water TemperatureWater Temperature 28°C  
Chance of RainChance of Rain 46%  
PrecipitationPrecipitation 294 mm  
Rainy daysRainy days 14 days  
HumidityHumidity 77%  
WindspeedWindspeed 7 km/h  
SunshineSunshine 202 hours  
Percentage SunshinePercentage Sunshine  

Where to go in Sri Lanka in May

Find out more about the weather in Sri Lanka in May and which places have the best weather conditions in this month.

Map not visible? Whoops sorry! Please refresh the page.
Legend perfect weather pleasant tolerable unpleasant poor
Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C and 29°C and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm a month).

So, what should you wear in Colombo in May?

It's going to be warm! Consider airy clothing, t-shirts, and other summer clothes. Shorts for men made of cotton or linen are good options for staying cool. However, there's a good chance of rain, so bring a raincoat just in case. With a water temperature of around 28°C this is a great month to swim so bring your swimwear.

What To Do

We rated the following activities from 1 (least suitable) to 10 (best) to do in May.

Swimming
8/10
Cycling
7/10
Walking
7/10
Camping
7/10
Outdoor sports
7/10

Interested in more climate information?

Weather and Climate provides you with all the information you need about the climate in Colombo.

Our site offers climate and forecast data for every country in the world. Are you going to Sri Lanka? On this website you can find historical weather averages for many cities in Sri Lanka. Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal climate conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.