Ratnapura District Weather in January

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

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Dambulla Udawalawe Embilipitiya Kalawana

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

What to Expect in Ratnapura District in January

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

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between warm in Belihul Oya at 27°C (81°F) to very warm in Kiralawelkatuwa at 31°C (88°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 22°C (72°F) in Kiralawelkatuwa and 18°C (64°F) in Belihul Oya. While the given temperatures for day and night are typical, there may be days that feel warmer. Make sure you're dressed in a way that keeps you cool and comfortable.

For a closer look at conditions across Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Kiralawelkatuwa with an average of 88 mm (3.5 in) to heavy rainfall in Ratnapura with 253 mm (10 in).

Explore Ratnapura District by month

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

Best Places to Visit in Ratnapura District in January

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

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 Ratnapura District

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka?

Temperature range in Ratnapura District (January)

Precipitation variation in Ratnapura District (January)

Dambulla

In January Dambulla generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 21°C (70°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
22°C (72°F)
21°C (70°F)
21°C (70°F)
Monthly rainfall
196 mm (7.7 in)
104 mm (4.1 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
5 days
5 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
pleasant
pleasant
Climate in Dambulla →

Udawalawe

In January Udawalawe generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 20°C (68°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
32°C (90°F)
Min temperature
21°C (70°F)
20°C (68°F)
21°C (70°F)
Monthly sun hours
220 hours
210 hours
201 hours
Monthly rainfall
243 mm (9.6 in)
134 mm (5.3 in)
105 mm (4.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
5 days
5 days
Weather conditions
poor
tolerable
tolerable
Climate in Udawalawe →

Embilipitiya

In January Embilipitiya generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 21°C (70°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)
31°C (88°F)
32°C (90°F)
Min temperature
22°C (72°F)
21°C (70°F)
22°C (72°F)
Monthly sun hours
220 hours
210 hours
201 hours
Monthly rainfall
194 mm (7.6 in)
95 mm (3.7 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
5 days
5 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
pleasant
pleasant
Climate in Embilipitiya →

Kalawana

In January Kalawana generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 21°C (70°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
21°C (70°F)
21°C (70°F)
21°C (70°F)
Monthly sun hours
218 hours
248 hours
246 hours
Monthly rainfall
359 mm (14 in)
213 mm (8.4 in)
188 mm (7.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
5 days
5 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
unpleasant
Climate in Kalawana →

Godakewela

In January Godakewela generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 20°C (68°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
30°C (86°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
20°C (68°F)
20°C (68°F)
20°C (68°F)
Monthly sun hours
218 hours
248 hours
246 hours
Monthly rainfall
351 mm (14 in)
215 mm (8.5 in)
170 mm (6.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
6 days
5 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
tolerable
Climate in Godakewela →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Ratnapura District, 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 Ratnapura District in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Dambulla 29°C (84°F) 21°C (70°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Udawalawe 30°C (86°F) 20°C (68°F) 134 mm (5.3 in)
Embilipitiya 31°C (88°F) 21°C (70°F) 95 mm (3.7 in)
Kalawana 30°C (86°F) 21°C (70°F) 213 mm (8.4 in)
Godakewela 30°C (86°F) 20°C (68°F) 215 mm (8.5 in)
Kiralawelkatuwa 31°C (88°F) 22°C (72°F) 88 mm (3.5 in)

Ratnapura District weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka in January?

January in Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka brings pleasant weather. In Dambulla, daytime temperatures are typically around 29°C (84°F) and nighttime lows hover near 21°C (70°F).

What is the average temperature in Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka in January?

In Dambulla, the average daytime high in January is 29°C (84°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 21°C (70°F).

Does Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka get a lot of rain in January?

Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka sees substantial rainfall in January. Dambulla typically averages about 104 mm (4.1 in), a mix of wet and dry days, but bring an umbrella.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka?

We consider January to be one of the best times to travel to Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka. Typically, the climate in Dambulla is pleasant. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.

On average, the best time to visit Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka is in January with generally pleasant weather in Dambulla. In contrast, March, April, October and November tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Ratnapura District.

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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