Sri Lanka Weather & Climate: Monthly Averages

Sri Lanka, due to its variations in tropical climates, has different rainfall patterns and amounts of precipitation. This therefore creates differences between a rainforest climate, tropical savannah climate, and a tropical monsoon climate.

Monsoon Seasons

Although Sri Lanka welcomes visitors throughout the year, the two rainy seasons sometimes make people confused about when to visit. The monsoon periods can be summarized below: the Yala Monsoon brings rain to the west, southwest, and inland areas from the end of April to September, while the Maha Monsoon affects the east coast from October to March.

Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka

If you're going to the west and south coasts, or inland, the weather is generally best from December to March. For the east and north coasts, the best time to visit for maximum chance of good weather is April/May to September.

Seasons for Tourism and Prices

Worth noting is that from December and March, Sri Lanka falls within its high season and prices are relatively higher. From May up to August, the country experiences the low season due to Yala monsoon. However, with pleasant weather in the north and east and reduced prices across the country, this period may present a great opportunity to explore Sri Lanka.