best time to visit Sri Lanka

Thinking of the Best Time To Visit Sri Lanka? One of the main things that travelers look for before going on holiday to a place is the weather. Since Sri Lanka is a tropical island you don’t have to worry about seasonal changes in weather, but there are some other stuff that you should be concerned about. This article will explain all of this.

Even though Sri Lanka is a small island, the weather here can be quite tricky. This is mainly due to the fact that Sri Lanka is situated smack bang in the middle of the Indian Ocean. This means that the country gets affected by the wind from two sides, resulting in two separate monsoons during a year. And this in turn affects the activities that you can enjoy during a given time. This is very true when you regard activities such as surfing in Sri Lanka. But the bright side is that you can always find some good weather on the island during any time of the year.

So when you are about to decide what would be the best time to visit Sri Lanka you should always keep these patterns in mind. Mind you these patterns have turned even more complex because of global warming issues but it should not be all bad.

Main Weather Patterns of the Country

As I mentioned above the country is affected by two monsoon seasons. This will be a significant factor when it comes to deciding which part of Sri Lanka you will be visiting most.

The main monsoon is the Southwest or Yala monsoon that brings rain to the west and southwest coasts and most of the hill country. This takes place between May and September with the wettest priod being the months of May & June.

The Northeast or Maha monsoon is not as strong as the Yala monsoon and it affects the Eastern coast and takes place between October and December.

There are inter-monsoonal rains as well, which happen just before the normal monsoons start. These can usually take place anywhere on the island and results in heavy thunderstorms. So keep all of these in mind before you think to visit Sri Lanka

When to Go to Where in Sri Lanka

Another thing to consider when deciding the best Time to travel to Sri Lanka is where you want to go. Since the country is close to the equator the temperatures remain temperate all year round fluctuating a bit depending on the rainfall & winds. If you are looking for warm weather you can find it around the coastal areas at any given time, with the Northern part of the country being a bit too warm for many visitors’ liking. If you are looking for cooler weather though you can go the hill country at the center of Sri Lanka, where cities like Kandy & Nuwara Eliya much cooler temperatures.

With the monsoons, if you are planning to enjoy the sea and the surf that Sri Lanka has to offer you need to be a bit mindful of when you come. If you want to visit the South or Western parts of the country then December to March is the best months. If the Eastern coast is your target then the months from May to September is your best time. This was emphasized in Lonely Planet as well.

Average Temperature and Rainfall of Sri Lanka

Below we have put together a chart displaying an average temperature & rainfall chart. This is just for you to get a rough idea of what sort of weather you can expect from Sri Lanka during a year. Keep an eye on this chart before you decide what is the best time to visit Sri Lanka.