Batticaloa weather in December

In December, Batticaloa sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 302 mm of rain across 21.6 wet days and about 11.6 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 27°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 19% of the time in December, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 36 min at the start of December to 11 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Batticaloa's 8th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Batticaloa's year-round climate.

Daytime high
27°
11th warmest
Overnight low
25°
2nd coldest
Rainfall
302 mm
21.6 wet days
Daylight
11 h 36 min
6:13 AM – 5:46 PM
Cloud cover
71%
8th clearest
Wind
16 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
4.2 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.7
out of 10

Batticaloa is city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka.

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 27°C through the month.

A typical December day in Batticaloa reaches about 27°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 2°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 26°C and 28°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 1°C cooler than November and on par with January.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12725
22725
32725
42725
52725
62725
72725
82725
92725
102725
112725
122725
132725
142725
152725
162725
172725
182725
192725
202725
212725
222725
232725
242725
252725
262725
272725
282725
292725
302725
312725

How December really feels in Batticaloa

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

December sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Batticaloa weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan27° / 25°17115.511.65.6
Feb27° / 25°8811.211.76.2
Mar29° / 26°528.311.96.1
Apr30° / 27°5910.512.25.0
May31° / 28°519.412.34.4
Jun32° / 28°255.412.44.2
Jul32° / 28°245.812.44.3
Aug31° / 27°317.512.34.5
Sep30° / 27°4811.1124.5
Oct29° / 26°15218.811.84.2
Nov28° / 25°28323.511.64.1
Dec27° / 25°30221.611.64.7

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 19% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 16% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 65%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13268
23268
33268
43367
53367
63367
73367
83367
93367
103367
113268
123268
133268
143268
153367
163367
173268
183367
193466
203466
213664
223664
233664
243862
253961
263961
274060
284060
294060
304258
314258

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Batticaloa gets around 302 mm of rain over 21.6 wet days in December, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 70% and peaks near 76% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
176
275
374
473
573
672
772
872
972
1072
1173
1273
1373
1473
1573
1673
1773
1872
1972
2071
2170
2269
2368
2467
2565
2664
2763
2862
2961
3060
3160

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the oppressive band about 79% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1058114
2068014
3068113
4078013
5078112
6088012
7088111
8088111
9088210
10098110
11098110
12098110
130108010
14010819
15011809
16011809
17012799
18012808
19013798
20014788
21014788
22015787
23016777
24116767
25117757
26117766
27118756
28118756
29218746
30218746
31218755

Wind in December

Winds average 16 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 14 km/h on the calmest days to 17 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
114light breeze
214light breeze
314light breeze
414light breeze
514light breeze
615light breeze
715light breeze
815light breeze
915light breeze
1015light breeze
1115light breeze
1215light breeze
1315light breeze
1416light breeze
1516light breeze
1616light breeze
1716light breeze
1816light breeze
1916light breeze
2016light breeze
2116light breeze
2216light breeze
2316light breeze
2416light breeze
2517light breeze
2617light breeze
2717light breeze
2817light breeze
2917light breeze
3017light breeze
3117light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 36 min at the start of December to 11 h 36 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 0 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 6:05 AM to 6:20 AM, and sunset from 5:40 PM to 5:53 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.66:055:40
211.66:065:41
311.66:065:41
411.66:075:41
511.66:075:42
611.66:085:42
711.66:085:42
811.66:095:43
911.66:095:43
1011.66:105:44
1111.66:105:44
1211.66:115:44
1311.66:115:45
1411.66:125:45
1511.66:125:46
1611.66:135:46
1711.66:135:46
1811.66:145:47
1911.66:145:47
2011.66:155:48
2111.66:155:48
2211.66:165:49
2311.66:165:49
2411.66:175:50
2511.66:175:50
2611.66:185:51
2711.66:185:51
2811.66:185:52
2911.66:195:52
3011.66:195:53
3111.66:205:53

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.2 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.2 kWh/m² to a high of 6.43 kWh/m² in March across the year — December's 4.2 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.3Bright
24.3Bright
34.2Bright
44.2Bright
54.2Bright
64.2Bright
74.2Bright
84.2Bright
94.2Bright
104.2Bright
114.2Bright
124.2Bright
134.2Bright
144.1Bright
154.1Bright
164.1Bright
174.1Bright
184.1Bright
194.1Bright
204.1Bright
214.2Bright
224.2Bright
234.2Bright
244.2Bright
254.2Bright
264.2Bright
274.3Bright
284.3Bright
294.3Bright
304.3Bright
314.3Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Batticaloa

In seasonPeak

In December, Batticaloa sits inside its cyclone and monsoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Batticaloa sits in the North Indian Ocean cyclone zone; the season peaks May and October–November.

Batticaloa's monsoon runs October–January, when most of the year's rain falls.

Cyclone
Monsoon
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Batticaloa?

Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

4.7
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
4.8
Beach & pool
11th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Batticaloa for sightseeing.

What to pack for Batticaloa in December

From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In December, Batticaloa sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. About 22 days see rain.

light clothesrain gear

Sea temperature near Batticaloa in December

The nearest coast averages about 28°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 20 km away) is warmest in May at about 30°C and coldest in January near 27°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

26°28°30°32°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb28Warm
Mar29Tropical
Apr30Tropical
May30Tropical
Jun30Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec28Warm

UV index in Batticaloa in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Batticaloa peaks around April 16 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 10 (very high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeApr 16UV 14Dec 20UV 10
UV index (midday)Level
Jan10Extreme
Feb12Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May13Extreme
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep13Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec10Very high

Air quality in Batticaloa in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Batticaloa is worst in May — around 25 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), and holds fairly steady the rest of the year.

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateMay 2125 µg/m³Dec 2118 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan19Moderate
Feb19Moderate
Mar20Moderate
Apr19Moderate
May25Moderate
Jun23Moderate
Jul23Moderate
Aug23Moderate
Sep22Moderate
Oct22Moderate
Nov20Moderate
Dec18Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Batticaloa?

Batticaloa sits at 7.7°N, 81.7°E, 17 m above sea level, in Sri Lanka. The nearest listed city is Eravur Town, 12 km away.

KalmunaiAmparaVakaraiPolonnaruwaPottuvilSigiriyaBadulla

Topography around Batticaloa

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Batticaloa.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Batticaloa has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 19 m around an average of 3 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 44 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 844 m.

The land around Batticaloa is covered by water (33%) and grassland (21%) within 3 km, water (53%) and cropland (22%) within 16 km, and water (40%) and trees (35%) within 80 km.

3 km
19 m
16 km
44 m
80 km
844 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwatermangroves
December weather nearby: Eravur Town 12 km · Kalmunai 37 km · Ampara 46 km · Vakarai 55 km · Polonnaruwa 80 km · Pottuvil 94 km · Sigiriya 107 km · Badulla 107 km

Sri Lanka travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type D / G / M
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 27% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$5,002
2025
Happiness
4.0 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
47%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
3.3
per 100k, 2019
Road deaths
19.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 486
Religion
Buddhist 70%Hindu 13%Muslim 10%Roman Catholic 6%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Batticaloa (7.7102°, 81.6924°, elevation 17 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).