Weather in Colombo in January
January in Colombo is a hot month. Plan the serious walking for morning. The rest of the day wants shade and a slower pace.
In Sri Lanka, this is how Colombo actually wears January, not how a country centroid would. January is the cold side of the year in Colombo. Pack for that, not for a leftover summer photo.
- Average temp
- 27°C
23–31°C
- Rainfall
- 83 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 7.4 h
hours per day
What to expect
Daytime
Hot days in Colombo. Ruins, markets and hills are a morning job. Midday sightseeing is how people remember January for the wrong reason.
Nights stay warm. Air-con, if you can get it, is part of the brief. A jumper for January in Colombo is almost always a waste of bag space.
Rain
January is on the drier side of the year in Colombo. Showers are possible. They do not define the month.
A shell that lives in the bag is enough. This is not November, and it should not be packed as if it were.
Evening
Evenings stay warm.
What to pack
Sun protection
Rain jacket
Where to stay in Colombo
Dates are a starting point for January.
Travel guides for Colombo
What to read before you book.
Average weather in Colombo
TemperatureRainfall
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FAQs about Colombo
Climate averages for Colombo, 1991–2020.
The best time to visit Colombo is between December and March, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.
May is the hottest month, with an average around 29°C.
October is the wettest month, with about 349 mm of rain.
No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.
