Sri Lanka weather in January
Sri Lanka averages 29°C by day and 23°C at night in January, with the sea at 28°C and about 150 mm of rain in the month.
Day
29°C
Night
23°C
Sea
28°C
Rain
150 mm
Flight from London
11h
What January feels like
January is hot but wet in Sri Lanka: rainy season, so pack for showers.
The sea is warm at 28°C: comfortable for long swims.
It is rainy season: about 150 mm of rain falls in the month.
That is 21°C warmer than an average January day in London.
Of the 56 sun destinations we track, Sri Lanka is the #13 warmest in January.
Comparing places? See where the weather is best in Sri Lanka in winter for each coast and the hill country.
Going to Sri Lanka in January?
Share the TikToks and Instagram Reels you've saved for Sri Lanka to Dream Trip. It finds the places, pins them on a map and builds your days around them.
Want it warmer in January?
These are hotter than Sri Lanka this month for at most an hour and a half more flying:
Sri Lanka weather by month
January is highlighted. Compare with December and February, or see the full year in Sri Lanka.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29°C | 23°C | 28°C | 150 mm |
| February | 30°C | 23°C | 29°C | 108 mm |
| March | 31°C | 24°C | 30°C | 119 mm |
| April | 30°C | 25°C | 30°C | 176 mm |
| May | 29°C | 26°C | 30°C | 414 mm |
| June | 29°C | 25°C | 29°C | 277 mm |
| July | 29°C | 25°C | 28°C | 254 mm |
| August | 28°C | 25°C | 28°C | 271 mm |
| September | 28°C | 25°C | 29°C | 310 mm |
| October | 28°C | 24°C | 29°C | 309 mm |
| November | 29°C | 24°C | 29°C | 396 mm |
| December | 29°C | 23°C | 29°C | 189 mm |
Sri Lanka in January: quick answers
Is Sri Lanka hot in January?
January is hot but wet in Sri Lanka: rainy season, so pack for showers. Average highs are 29°C and lows 23°C.
Can you swim in Sri Lanka in January?
The sea is warm at 28°C: comfortable for long swims.
Does it rain in Sri Lanka in January?
It is rainy season: about 150 mm of rain falls in the month.
What is the warmest month in Sri Lanka?
March, at an average high of 31°C. The coolest is August at 28°C.
How long is the flight to Sri Lanka from the UK?
About 11h direct from London, estimated from the 8,838 km distance. Check your airline for exact times.
Still choosing? See where is hot in January for every destination ranked by temperature, sea and flight time.
How we measured this
Averages of every day in January from 2016 to 2025 for south coast, from the Open-Meteo historical weather archive (ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis). Sea temperature is the 2023 to 2025 average from the Open-Meteo marine archive. Rain is the average monthly total. Reanalysis describes an area about 25 km across, so sheltered resorts can run a degree or two warmer. Flight time is a distance-based estimate from London Heathrow.
Planning Sri Lanka in January?
Save the restaurants, beaches and views you find on TikTok and Instagram for Sri Lanka straight to a map, then let Dream Trip turn them into a day-by-day plan.
