Sri Lanka weather in August - temperature, rain and is it a good time to visit?

Weather in August at a glance

Daytime temperature: 31°C
Night-time temperature: 26°C
Daylight hours: 12h22min
Chance of rain: 34%
Days with thunderstorms: 6%
Muggy days: 100%

An overview for the country. Conditions can vary between cities and regions.

Plan your trip · August

Sri Lanka in August: weather for a week away

Compare destinations and see how many days of a typical trip met your preferred temperature range, with less than 1 mm of daily precipitation.

Historical dataNASA POWER1981-2025

City or region

Compare with history

What weather do you prefer?

Kandy in August: Sightseeing

1981-2025

Daytime temperature 18-28°CDaily precipitation Less than 1 mm

Days matching your plans

0.4 / 7

Weekly average; typical number of days: 0-1

At least 5 matching days

<1%

of historical weeks

All 7 days match

of historical weeks

How many matching days were there in a week?

Each bar shows the share of historical weeks.

77%

0days

15%

1day

2days

3days

4days

<1%

5days

<1%

6days

7days

5-7 days matching your preferences

When to go? Compare the months

Average matching days per week

2.5Jan 0.7Feb 0Mar 0Apr 0.1May 0.4Jun 0.4Jul 0.4Aug 0.1Sept 0.1Oct 0.5Nov 1.7Dec

The highest average was in January: 2.5 matching days per week.

Sri Lanka in August: which destinations match most often?

Comparison of 10 cities and regions using your selected conditions.

Kandy · 1981-2025

Hot days and warm nights in August

Does the temperature drop below 20°C during hot weather?

100%of hot days with a minimum ≥20°C

100%of weeks with at least 3 warm nights*

On 100% of hot days, the temperature stayed at or above 20°C even at its coolest. This covers 565 days with a maximum of at least 30°C.

Lowest temperature on hot days

Below 18°C0%

18°C to below 20°C0%

At least 20°C100%

* A warm night is represented by the daily minimum ≥20°C. Maximum and minimum refer to the same day; this does not isolate the night following a particular hot day.

Kandy · Your holiday week

How much can temperatures change during a week?

Check cooler hours as well as afternoon temperatures.

Coolest time of day21.7-22.7°CWeekly minimum: typical range

Warmest day29.9-32.3°CWeekly maximum: typical range

2.8°CTypical difference between the highest and lowest daytime maxima in a week

How often does it get cooler from one day to the next?

0%of weeks with a day-to-day drop in maximum temperature of at least 5°C

Daytime temperatures usually changed gradually, but allow for cooler hours when packing.

Ranges are the 20th-80th percentiles of whole-week minima and maxima, not forecast limits. Cooling compares consecutive daily maxima, not day and night temperatures.

Compare all destinations

18-28°C · Less than 1 mm · 1981-2025
City or region	Days matching your plans	At least 5 matching days	All 7 days match
Kandy	0.4 / 7	<1%	0%
Anuradhapura	0 / 7	0%	0%
Colombo	0.9 / 7	3%	<1%
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte	0.9 / 7	3%	<1%
Galle	1.3 / 7	8%	3%
Jaffna	0 / 7	0%	0%
Trincomalee	0 / 7	0%	0%
Matara	0.5 / 7	1%	<1%
Negombo	0.9 / 7	3%	<1%
Batticaloa	0 / 7	0%	0%

Where do the figures come from?

The analysis includes 1,125 complete 7-day periods out of 1,125 possible periods in 45 years (1981-2025), for Kandy. Every week lies entirely within the selected month. Overlapping weeks are not independent samples. Incomplete weeks are excluded.

A matching day has a daily maximum within the selected temperature range, inclusive, and precipitation below 1 mm. Trace precipitation is possible. The typical range is the 20th-80th percentile of matching days per week. Daily percentages count each calendar day once; categories can overlap.

NASA POWER provides daily MERRA-2 grid data for each location, not city weather-station measurements or an area-wide country average. These are historical frequencies, not a forecast or a measure of forecast accuracy. This comparison does not include cloud, wind, humidity, sea temperature or changes within the day, and does not assess outdoor safety. Check the current forecast before travelling. NASA POWER Daily API.

Historical frequency, not a forecast for your travel dates.

Sri Lanka - August vs the year - annual climate

In August, Sri Lanka averages about 31° during the day and 26° at night. There's a moderate chance of rain (about 34%).

Historical weather 1981-2025

Weather in Sri Lanka in August: trends from 1981 to 2025

NASA POWER

From 2016 to 2025, the average daytime high was 29.1°C, 0.5°C warmer than in 1981-1990. 2023 was the warmest (30.2°C), while 1984 was the coolest (28°C).

Differences between years

How similar is the weather in August from year to year?

In 40% of the years compared, temperature and the number of wet days were close to typical for this month.

Similar means an average daily maximum within 2°C and a wet-day count within 3 days of the 1991-2020 medians. This is historical similarity, not forecast accuracy.

40%of years with similar conditions

Typical average daytime high28.6°C–29.4°C

Typical number of wet days10–22 days

Daytime temperatures in August: year by year

Monthly average daily maximum temperature: compare individual years and the longer-term trend.

45 years of data

Coolest month28°C 1984

Warmest month30.2°C 2023

Latest year in the data28.7°C 2025

Average for each year5-year average1991-2020 reference: 29°C

Blue band: the 20th-80th percentile of monthly averages in 1991-2020. The thicker line is the average of five consecutive years. Highlights describe whole months, not single-day records.

View temperatures for every year

Year	Average daytime maximum	5-year average
1981	28.8°C	-
1982	28.1°C	-
1983	29.1°C	-
1984	28°C	-
1985	28.7°C	28.5°C
1986	28.5°C	28.5°C
1987	28.9°C	28.6°C
1988	28.7°C	28.6°C
1989	28°C	28.6°C
1990	29°C	28.6°C
1991	28.9°C	28.7°C
1992	28.5°C	28.6°C
1993	28.7°C	28.6°C
1994	29.1°C	28.8°C
1995	29.7°C	29°C
1996	29.1°C	29°C
1997	29.5°C	29.2°C
1998	29°C	29.3°C
1999	28.6°C	29.2°C
2000	28.4°C	28.9°C
2001	29.3°C	29°C
2002	29.2°C	28.9°C
2003	29.2°C	28.9°C
2004	29.6°C	29.1°C
2005	29.7°C	29.4°C
2006	29°C	29.3°C
2007	28.7°C	29.2°C
2008	28.6°C	29.1°C
2009	28.9°C	29°C
2010	28.2°C	28.7°C
2011	28.7°C	28.6°C
2012	29.2°C	28.7°C
2013	28.2°C	28.6°C
2014	28.8°C	28.6°C
2015	29.4°C	28.9°C
2016	29.4°C	29°C
2017	29.4°C	29°C
2018	28.5°C	29.1°C
2019	29.2°C	29.2°C
2020	29.2°C	29.1°C
2021	28.4°C	28.9°C
2022	28.3°C	28.7°C
2023	30.2°C	29.1°C
2024	29.6°C	29.1°C
2025	28.7°C	29°C

How has August changed since the 1980s?

A comparison of 1981-1990 with 2016-2025 shows how temperatures, rainfall and the frequency of longer hot spells have changed.

In the latest decade, the average daytime high was 0.5°C warmer than in 1981-1990.

Daytime high

1981-199028.6°C2016-202529.1°C

change: +0.5°C

Hot days

1981-19901.6 days2016-20254.9 days

change: +3.3 days

Warm nights

1981-199031 days2016-202531 days

change: 0 days

Wet days

1981-199016.1 days2016-202520.2 days

change: +4.1 days

Years with a heatwave

1981-199020%2016-202530%

change: +10 pp

How often does August bring heat, frost and rain?

Typical number of days and monthly precipitation based on the 1991-2020 climate normal.

Warm days31 dayshigh of at least 25°C

Hot days2 dayshigh of at least 30°C

Frost nights0 dayslow below 0°C

Warm nights31 dayslow of at least 20°C

Wet days17 daysat least 1 mm

Monthly rainfall64 mmtypical total

How often does it rain in Sri Lanka in August?

The chances use every consecutive 3-, 5- and 7-day period from 1981 to 2025. A wet day has at least 1 mm of precipitation.

A full seven days without rain occurred in 12% of historical periods. At least one wet day occurred in 88% of weeks.

3 rain-free days28%historical chance

5 rain-free days17%historical chance

7 rain-free days12%historical chance

Longest dry spell7 daystypical in the month

Longest wet spell8 daystypical in the month

Heatwaves, warm nights and cool spells in August

The percentages show years with at least one run of three consecutive days or nights meeting the stated threshold.

Heatwave22%3 days with highs of at least 30°C10 of 45 years · most often: Days 1-10

Run of warm nights100%3 nights with lows of at least 20°C45 of 45 years · most often: Days 1-10

Run of frosty nights0%3 nights with lows below 0°C0 of 45 years

Marked cool spell51%3 days with highs no greater than 28.3°C23 of 45 years · most often: Days 1-10

Highest and lowest values since 1981

Highest temperature31.2°C6 August 2023

Coolest night23.1°C12 August 1984

Wettest day30.1 mm30 August 2022

Start, middle or end of the month - when is the weather most stable?

We compare temperatures, dry days, heavy rain and wind. The highlighted period usually has the lowest combined risk of rain and stronger winds.

Days 1-10most stable

29°CDaytime high25.3°CNight

Dry days: 5 days
Heavy-rain risk: 1%
Hot days: 10%
Stronger wind: 2%

Days 11-20

29°CDaytime high25.2°CNight

Dry days: 5 days
Heavy-rain risk: 4%
Hot days: 8%
Stronger wind: 1%

Day 21 to month end

29.1°CDaytime high25.3°CNight

Dry days: 5 days
Heavy-rain risk: 5%
Hot days: 12%
Stronger wind: 2%

The most stable conditions for rain and wind usually occur during: Days 1-10.

Country values are the median of data for 10 cities covered by the site. Source: NASA POWER daily gridded data (MERRA-2), 1981-2025; 1991-2020 climate normal. These are area-based model data and can differ from official weather-station records.

Sri Lanka weather all year - average temperatures and rain

Month	Day	Night	Chance of rain
January ★	32℃	23℃	21%
February ★	32℃	24℃	23%
March	33℃	25℃	24%
April	33℃	25℃	35%
May	32℃	26℃	64%
June	32℃	26℃	51%
July	31℃	26℃	34%
August	31℃	26℃	34%
September	31℃	26℃	56%
October	31℃	25℃	64%
November	31℃	24℃	54%
December ★	31℃	24℃	41%

★ - months most often recommended for travel

Where is it warmest in Sri Lanka in August? Weather by city

For each city, we show the average daytime temperature and the warmest and coolest year. The comparison uses the average daily high across the whole of August, not a single extreme day.

Place	Day	Night	August 1981-2025	Sea	Chance of rain
Batticaloa	33℃	26℃	Average32.1°C Warmest year2004 · 33.2°C Coolest year2022 · 30.7°C Warmest day35.1°C · 10 Aug 2004 Coolest day27°C · 6 Aug 1992	30℃	10%
Colombo	31℃	26℃	Average28°C Warmest year1995 · 29°C Coolest year2010 · 27.1°C Warmest day30.9°C · 26 Aug 1997 Coolest day25.3°C · 31 Aug 2022	29℃	34%
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte	31℃	26℃	Average28°C Warmest year1995 · 29°C Coolest year2010 · 27.1°C Warmest day30.9°C · 26 Aug 1997 Coolest day25.3°C · 31 Aug 2022	29℃	35%
Negombo	31℃	26℃	Average28°C Warmest year1995 · 29°C Coolest year2010 · 27.1°C Warmest day30.9°C · 26 Aug 1997 Coolest day25.3°C · 31 Aug 2022	29℃	34%
Kandy	30℃	26℃	Average29.7°C Warmest year2023 · 32.7°C Coolest year1989 · 27.7°C Warmest day35.9°C · 12 Aug 1995 Coolest day24.6°C · 15 Aug 1989	-	35%

Temperature records in Sri Lanka: August compared with the whole year

The comparison uses daily high temperatures from 1981-2025 for the 5 cities shown in the table.

Warmest day in August35.9°C Kandy · 12 August 1995

Warmest day of the year41°C Kandy · 12 April 1983

Coolest day in August24.6°C Kandy · 15 August 1989

Coolest day of the year22.6°C Kandy · 26 October 2015

These are records in NASA POWER gridded data for the analysed cities, not official national weather-station records.

Travelling soon? Check the live 14-day weather forecast for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka weather - other months

JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember