Colombo Weather History
Sri Lanka · Asia · Weather data 1976–today
Colombo sits 771km from the equator, 1m above sea level. That combination gives it a hot, rainy climate with no real dry season (Tropical rainforest climate). Its record high is 36.4°C, set 1998-03-04, its record low 16.9°C, set 2001-02-12.
Data through August 4, 2026.
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Colombo
What is the hottest temperature ever recorded in Colombo?
The highest temperature in this record for Colombo is 36.4°C, measured on 1998-03-04. That is a recorded daily value from Colombo's own series covering 1976 to 2020, not an estimate or a regional average.
What is the coldest temperature ever recorded in Colombo?
The lowest temperature in this record for Colombo is 16.9°C, measured on 2001-02-12. Together with the heat record above, that spans the full range this city has actually experienced across 1976 to 2020.
How much rain does Colombo get a year?
Colombo averages 2489mm of precipitation a year, spread across roughly 270 days with at least 1mm. That average is taken over 45 complete calendar years, so one exceptionally wet or dry year does not set the figure.
What was the wettest day on record in Colombo?
On 2016-05-15, 231.4mm fell on Colombo, the highest single-day total in this series. For scale, that is roughly 9% of what the city receives in an average full year, in one day.
How many hours of sunshine does Colombo get a year?
Colombo averages 3568 sunshine hours a year, which works out to about 9.8 hours a day across the whole year. Sunshine hours measure the time direct sunlight actually reaches the ground, not simply how long it is light.
How warm are summers and how cold are winters in Colombo?
Across the summer months Colombo averages a daytime high near 28.5°C, while winter nights average 23.1°C. The seasons here are set from Colombo's position relative to the equator rather than a fixed northern-hemisphere calendar.
What is the strongest wind recorded in Colombo?
The strongest wind speed recorded in Colombo is 39 km/h, on 2017-11-30. That is the daily maximum sustained wind rather than the peak gust, which typically runs higher still.
