Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in December.

Considering a trip to Sri Lanka this December and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:

What to Expect in Sri Lanka in December

December in Sri Lanka generally has temperatures that range from warm to very warm, with precipitation levels ranging from high to heavy.

Temperatures

During the day the temperature is warm in Ramboda at 25°C (77°F) and very warm in Gampaha at 31°C (88°F). As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 23°C (73°F) in Gampaha and 18°C (64°F) in Ramboda. On average, December is the month with the lowest temperatures of the year in Kandy.

To explore the conditions in Sri Lanka in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From high rainfall in Chilaw with an average of 138 mm (5.4 in) to heavy rainfall in Adams Peak with 497 mm (20 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine amounts are decent in most places. Kandy gets approximately 143 hours of sunlight in December, offering a reasonable amount of both bright and cloudy periods. Curious about sunnier destinations? Our weather planner makes it easy to find places worldwide with pleasant weather.

Explore Sri Lanka by month

Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Sri Lanka.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Sri Lanka

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Sri Lanka?

Temperature range in Sri Lanka (December)

Precipitation variation in Sri Lanka (December)

Kandy

In December Kandy generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 27°C (81°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 20°C (68°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
27°C (81°F)
27°C (81°F)
Min temperature
20°C (68°F)
20°C (68°F)
19°C (66°F)
Monthly sun hours
125 hours
143 hours
166 hours
Monthly rainfall
322 mm (13 in)
220 mm (8.7 in)
108 mm (4.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
13 days
6 days
Weather conditions

Hikkaduwa

In December Hikkaduwa generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
210 hours
220 hours
250 hours
Monthly rainfall
290 mm (11 in)
171 mm (6.7 in)
78 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
10 days
5 days
Weather conditions

Negombo

In December Negombo generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly sun hours
210 hours
217 hours
248 hours
Monthly rainfall
294 mm (12 in)
151 mm (5.9 in)
48 mm (1.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
10 days
4 days
Weather conditions

Mirissa

In December Mirissa generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly sun hours
210 hours
220 hours
250 hours
Monthly rainfall
283 mm (11 in)
181 mm (7.1 in)
86 mm (3.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
10 days
5 days
Weather conditions

Nuwara Eliya

In December Nuwara Eliya generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 25°C (77°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 18°C (64°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
19°C (66°F)
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly sun hours
125 hours
143 hours
166 hours
Monthly rainfall
298 mm (12 in)
229 mm (9 in)
124 mm (4.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
13 days
6 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Sri Lanka.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Sri Lanka in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Kandy 27°C (81°F) 20°C (68°F) 220 mm (8.7 in)
Colombo 31°C (88°F) 24°C (75°F) 185 mm (7.3 in)
Hikkaduwa 29°C (84°F) 25°C (77°F) 171 mm (6.7 in)
Negombo 31°C (88°F) 24°C (75°F) 151 mm (5.9 in)
Nuwara Eliya 25°C (77°F) 18°C (64°F) 229 mm (9 in)
Anuradhapura 30°C (86°F) 23°C (73°F) 161 mm (6.3 in)

Sri Lanka weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Sri Lanka in December?

In December, Sri Lanka generally has unpleasant weather conditions. Kandy sees daytime temperatures near 27°C (81°F), with nights cooling to roughly 20°C (68°F).

What is the average temperature in Sri Lanka in December?

In Kandy, the average daytime high in December is 27°C (81°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 20°C (68°F).

Does Sri Lanka get a lot of rain in December?

Rainfall in Sri Lanka peaks during December. Kandy averages roughly 220 mm (8.7 in), so frequent and sometimes heavy showers are the norm.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Sri Lanka?

In our view, December might not be the best time to travel to Sri Lanka with often unpleasant weather in Kandy.

Generally speaking, February provides perfect weather in Kandy. On the other hand, the weather in April, October and November tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Sri Lanka.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Sri Lanka? Get detailed 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 travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.