Sri Lanka Seasons

srilanka-seasons

For such a small country, Sri Lanka has an extremely varied climate  whether you are exploring the southern coast, are traveling up north or wandering around the Cultural Triangle in the center of the country. While Sri Lanka does have two monsoon seasons affecting different sides of the country, generally speaking it is very much a year-round destination thanks to its proximity to the equator guaranteeing warm temperatures throughout the year – you simply have to know where is best to go and when.

The easiest way of explaining the way the weather works in Sri Lanka is by dividing the country into several regions – the southwest, northeast, central and hill country. From April to September the southwest of the island is affected by monsoon weather, however this does not mean constant rainfall but rather bursts of intermittent showers at intervals throughout the day, which quickly clear away to blue skies. The northeast likewise experiences monsoon weather, but from November to March instead – so if you get your timing right you are bound to find beach weather and sunshine on one side of the island. There is also an inter-monsoonal period between October and November when rain and thunderstorms can be seen across the country.

Home to the most popular landmarks in Sri Lanka – including no less than five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, The Cultural Triangle in the center of the country is where most travelers are keen to visit on holiday so being clued up on the weather there is of upmost importance. While November and December welcome high rainfall here, the rest of the year is reasonable dry with June and July being the hottest times of the year. Sitting at a higher altitude than the coastal regions and Cultural Triangle, Kandy and the hill country enjoy much cooler temperatures and occasional rainfall in the southwest monsoon season keeping the landscape lush and green – best time to visit here is December through March.

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