Destination guide
Galle weather by month
January to March is the best window for Galle, with February the clearest choice if avoiding rain matters most. February combines daytime warmth of 29°C with 15 rain days and a sea temperature of 28°C. That is relatively dry here, not reliably rain-free, so keep outdoor plans flexible. March suits travellers who prefer hotter days, while much of the rest of the year brings more frequent rain without much relief from the warmth.
- Hottest month
- 29.8°CMarch
- Coolest month
- 27.8°CAugust
- Warmest sea
- 29.5°CApril
- Flight from London
- 11 h 48 minLong-haul (7 h+) · estimated
Galle, month by month
A little perspective
Galle through the year
Every month at a glance; "best" marks our three top months on warmth, dryness and sunshine.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Januarybest | 28.4°C | 23.6°C | 27.7°C | 3.9 | 116 | 17 | 100% |
| Februarybest | 29.2°C | 23.9°C | 28.1°C | 4.7 | 100 | 15 | 100% |
| Marchbest | 29.8°C | 24.7°C | 29.0°C | 5.1 | 116 | 20 | 100% |
| April | 29.4°C | 25.4°C | 29.5°C | 3.5 | 226 | 27 | 100% |
| May | 28.7°C | 25.6°C | 28.9°C | 2.1 | 305 | 30 | 100% |
| June | 28.3°C | 25.4°C | 28.0°C | 1.8 | 268 | 29 | 100% |
| July | 27.9°C | 25.1°C | 27.4°C | 1.8 | 244 | 30 | 100% |
| August | 27.8°C | 24.9°C | 27.4°C | 1.9 | 244 | 30 | 100% |
| September | 27.8°C | 24.8°C | 27.9°C | 2.0 | 275 | 28 | 100% |
| October | 28.0°C | 24.6°C | 28.2°C | 2.1 | 333 | 28 | 100% |
| November | 28.1°C | 24.3°C | 28.7°C | 2.2 | 363 | 26 | 100% |
| December | 28.2°C | 23.9°C | 28.2°C | 3.0 | 221 | 22 | 100% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
When to go to Galle
For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. November is the wettest month (363 mm, about 26 rainy days) and February the driest (100 mm). The sea is warmest in April at 29.5°C and coolest in July at 27.4°C.
Getting there
A direct flight from London Gatwick to Koggala Airport (KCT, 13 km from Galle) takes roughly 11 h 48 min - long-haul (7 h+) by UK standards. Time-zone: Asia/Colombo.
Records and extremes, 1991-2020
The hottest day recorded in Galle between 1991 and 2020 reached 33.7°C on 13 March 2020; the coldest fell to 19.9°C on 8 January 2018. In March one day in ten tops 31.3°C and about 37% of days pass 30°C; in August one night in ten drops to 24.2°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was May 2016 with 667 mm, against a May average of 305 mm.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Galle
Local time on the 15th of each month; daylight-saving rules as of 2020.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Sunshine/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:24 | 18:12 | 11.8 h | 3.9 h |
| February | 06:25 | 18:21 | 11.9 h | 4.7 h |
| March | 06:16 | 18:21 | 12.1 h | 5.1 h |
| April | 06:02 | 18:17 | 12.3 h | 3.5 h |
| May | 05:54 | 18:17 | 12.4 h | 2.1 h |
| June | 05:56 | 18:24 | 12.5 h | 1.8 h |
| July | 06:02 | 18:28 | 12.4 h | 1.8 h |
| August | 06:04 | 18:23 | 12.3 h | 1.9 h |
| September | 06:00 | 18:09 | 12.2 h | 2.0 h |
| October | 05:55 | 17:55 | 12.0 h | 2.1 h |
| November | 05:58 | 17:49 | 11.8 h | 2.2 h |
| December | 06:11 | 17:57 | 11.8 h | 3.0 h |
January to March: the best balance of warmth and sunshine
These months give you the strongest weather window for spending time outdoors. January is slightly cooler, with daytime temperatures of 28°C and nights at 24°C, making it a sensible choice if extra heat is not a priority. February has the fewest rain days, at 15, alongside 5 hours of daily sunshine. March keeps that sunshine but turns hotter, reaching 30°C by day, while rain becomes more frequent. Choose February for the better balance of warmth and fewer wet days, or March if heat matters more. Pack light clothing and rain protection for either, and leave room for shade around midday.
April to October: warm seas, frequent rain and less sunshine
April marks a change towards wetter conditions: the sea reaches 30°C, but 27 rain days make it a less dependable choice for outdoor plans. May stays warm and brings rain on 30 days, with sunshine dropping to 2 hours daily. June, July and August offer little improvement, so they are weaker choices if your holiday depends on bright weather. July and August have the coolest sea temperatures, though 27°C is still warm. September and October remain similar, each with 28 rain days and limited sunshine. This stretch suits travellers happy to work around wet weather rather than those wanting dependable sun. Take quick-drying clothes and waterproof protection for belongings, and keep plans easy to rearrange.
November and December: improvement comes gradually
November is not yet a good bet for drier weather. Although rain days fall to 26, it is the wettest month overall, and daily sunshine remains at 2 hours. December moves in a more favourable direction, with 22 rain days and 3 hours of sunshine, but it still falls short of the conditions in January and February. Both months stay warm at 28°C by day and 24°C at night, so this is not a cool season. December suits travellers who can accept frequent rain in return for warm days and evenings; if timing is flexible, waiting until February gives you a better chance of drier conditions.
A little more detail
Galle weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
What is the best time to visit Galle?
Judged on warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, the best months in Galle are March, February and January. March is the hottest month (average high 29.8°C) and August the coolest (27.8°C).
How many months a year is Galle over 25°C?
12 months in Galle average a daytime high of 25°C or more, and 12 average 20°C or more.
When is the rainy season in Galle?
November is the wettest month in Galle (363 mm on average) and February the driest (100 mm). Annual rainfall averages 2811 mm.
What is the hottest temperature recorded in Galle?
The hottest day recorded in Galle between 1991 and 2020 reached 33.7°C on 13 March 2020; the coldest fell to 19.9°C on 8 January 2018. Records come from daily data for 1991-2020, not from a single station's all-time history.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming throughout the year?
Sea temperatures range from 27°C in July and August to 30°C in April, so warmth is unlikely to be the limiting factor. Temperature alone does not establish safe swimming conditions; check local advice before entering the water.
Will I need warm clothes for the evenings?
Average night temperatures stay between 24°C and 26°C, so evenings remain warm throughout the year. Lightweight clothing is the practical starting point rather than heavy layers. Pack rain protection too, since even the driest month has frequent rain days.
Which months have the most sunshine?
February and March share the most sunshine, averaging 5 hours daily. February is the better choice if you also want fewer rain days; March is hotter. January and April average 4 hours, but April brings much more frequent rain.
See also: Sri Lanka weather by month · where else is hot in March
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Galle (Galle (south-west coast)). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2.8 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C