Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Weather in January

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

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Kandy Colombo Hikkaduwa Negombo

Planning a trip to Sri Lanka this January? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in Sri Lanka in January

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

Temperatures

During the day the temperature is warm in Ramboda at 25°C (77°F) and very warm in Biyagama at 33°C (91°F). As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 23°C (73°F) in Biyagama and 17°C (63°F) in Ramboda.

For specific regional insights in Sri Lanka, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Chilaw with an average of 43 mm (1.7 in) to heavy rainfall in Adams Peak with 299 mm (12 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine levels are moderate in most locations. Kandy typically sees 166 hours of sunlight, creating comfortable conditions that aren't too bright or too dim. Looking for something sunnier? Our weather planner helps you discover destinations with more reliable sunshine.

Explore Sri Lanka by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka in January

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

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
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 January for some of the most popular destinations in Sri Lanka?

Temperature range in Sri Lanka (January)

Precipitation variation in Sri Lanka (January)

Kandy

In January Kandy generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 27°C (81°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 19°C (66°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
27°C (81°F)
27°C (81°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
20°C (68°F)
19°C (66°F)
19°C (66°F)
Monthly sun hours
143 hours
166 hours
162 hours
Monthly rainfall
220 mm (8.7 in)
108 mm (4.3 in)
99 mm (3.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
6 days
5 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
pleasant
perfect
Climate in Kandy →

Hikkaduwa

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

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
220 hours
250 hours
249 hours
Monthly rainfall
171 mm (6.7 in)
78 mm (3.1 in)
72 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
5 days
5 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
perfect
pleasant
Climate in Hikkaduwa →

Negombo

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

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
32°C (90°F)
Min temperature
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
217 hours
248 hours
246 hours
Monthly rainfall
151 mm (5.9 in)
48 mm (1.9 in)
56 mm (2.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
4 days
4 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
pleasant
pleasant
Climate in Negombo →

Mirissa

In January Mirissa generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
24°C (75°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
220 hours
250 hours
249 hours
Monthly rainfall
181 mm (7.1 in)
86 mm (3.4 in)
76 mm (3 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
5 days
5 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
pleasant
pleasant
Climate in Mirissa →

Nuwara Eliya

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

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly sun hours
143 hours
166 hours
162 hours
Monthly rainfall
229 mm (9 in)
124 mm (4.9 in)
107 mm (4.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
6 days
6 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
pleasant
pleasant
Climate in Nuwara Eliya →

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

In our records: Sri Lanka January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Sri Lanka in our climate database (1995 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • Based on our data, the coldest January night in Sri Lanka dropped to -2°C (28°F) in Bentota on January 1, 2020.

Popular cities in January

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Kandy 27°C (81°F) 19°C (66°F) 108 mm (4.3 in)
Colombo 32°C (90°F) 24°C (75°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Hikkaduwa 29°C (84°F) 25°C (77°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
Negombo 31°C (88°F) 24°C (75°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Nuwara Eliya 25°C (77°F) 18°C (64°F) 124 mm (4.9 in)
Anuradhapura 30°C (86°F) 22°C (72°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)

Sri Lanka weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Sri Lanka in January?

Sri Lanka typically experiences pleasant weather in January, part of the season. Daytime highs in Kandy average around 27°C (81°F), and temperatures drop to about 19°C (66°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Sri Lanka in January?

Daytime temperatures in Kandy peak at roughly 27°C (81°F) in January, dropping to about 19°C (66°F) overnight.

Does Sri Lanka get a lot of rain in January?

Sri Lanka sees substantial rainfall in January. Kandy typically averages about 108 mm (4.3 in), a mix of wet and dry days, but bring an umbrella.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Sri Lanka?

In our opinion, January is a good time to visit Sri Lanka with overall pleasant weather in Kandy.

On average, the best time to visit Sri Lanka is in February with generally 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.

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