Colombo weather in May
Colombo in May averages 29°C (84°F), 314 mm of rain and 6.6 hours of sun a day. It is one of the wetter months of the year here.
Of the twelve months in Colombo, May is the warmest and the third wettest.
- Average temp
- 29°C (84°F)
26–32°C · 80–89°F
- Rainfall
- 314 mm
A wet month
- Sunshine
- 6.6 h
hours per day
What is Colombo like in May?
Daytime
Days are warm, typically in the mid-20s°C or above.
Rain
Expect frequent rain — this is a wet month.
Evening
Evenings stay warm.
What should I pack for Colombo in May?
High-factor sun cream
With daytime highs around 32°C, burn time is short even in shade.
Sunglasses and a brimmed hat
Midday glare is the part people underpack for, not the heat itself.
Loose cotton or linen
Synthetics stop working once you are sweating through them all day.
A refillable water bottle
Daily highs this warm need roughly double the water a temperate day does.
A proper waterproof, not a folding umbrella
314 mm in the month usually arrives as heavy bursts that an umbrella will not cover.
A dry bag for phone and documents
Worth it for one downpour caught between the taxi and the door.
May compared with April and June
May in Colombo is about the same temperature as April and 63 mm wetter than it, which averages 29°C (83°F).
May in Colombo is 0.6°C warmer than June and 113 mm wetter than it, which averages 28°C (83°F).
Daylight in Colombo in May
On 15 May the sun is up for 12 hours 26 minutes in Colombo, rising about 05:53 and setting about 18:20 local time.
Where to stay in Colombo
Dates are a starting point for May.
Travel guides for Colombo
What to read before you book.
Colombo weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How May compares with the rest of the year
May is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 27°C / 81°F | 83 mm |
| February | 28°C / 82°F | 76 mm |
| March | 28°C / 83°F | 103 mm |
| April | 29°C / 83°F | 251 mm |
| May | 29°C / 84°F | 314 mm |
| June | 28°C / 83°F | 202 mm |
| July | 28°C / 82°F | 128 mm |
| August | 28°C / 82°F | 122 mm |
| September | 28°C / 82°F | 270 mm |
| October | 28°C / 82°F | 349 mm |
| November | 27°C / 81°F | 343 mm |
| December | 27°C / 81°F | 176 mm |
Check another month
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FAQs about Colombo in May
May climate averages for Colombo, 1991–2020.
Colombo averages 29°C (84°F) in May, ranging from about 26°C (80°F) at night to 32°C (89°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Yes, a lot. May brings about 314 mm, which makes it one of the wetter months here — expect heavy bursts rather than all-day drizzle.
Yes. May averages 29°C (84°F) against 28°C (83°F) in June — 0.6°C warmer.
May is about as warm as April, and 63 mm wetter.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is December to March; May sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
About 6.6 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what May is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 12 hours 26 minutes of daylight in mid-May, against 12 hours 31 minutes in June and 11 hours 44 minutes in December.
On 15 May, sunrise is about 05:53 and sunset about 18:20 local time. Both shift across the month.
