Batticaloa weather in January

In January, Batticaloa sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 171 mm of rain across 15.5 wet days and about 11.6 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 3rd-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 26% of the time in January, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 36 min at the start of January to 11 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Batticaloa's 4th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Batticaloa's year-round climate.

Daytime high
27°
12th warmest
Overnight low
25°
1st coldest
Rainfall
171 mm
15.5 wet days
Daylight
11 h 36 min
6:25 AM – 6:00 PM
Cloud cover
64%
4th clearest
Wind
17 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
4.71 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.6
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 January

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

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

A typical January 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, January runs on par with December and on par with February.

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 January really feels in Batticaloa

Once humidity and wind are folded in, January 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

January 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 January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 12th-warmest and 3rd-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 January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 26% of the time in January.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 21% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 53%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14357
24357
34456
44555
54555
64555
74654
84654
94654
104753
114753
124852
134852
144951
154951
164951
174951
184852
194852
204852
214852
224951
234951
244852
254852
264852
274852
284951
294951
304951
314951

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Batticaloa gets around 171 mm of rain over 15.5 wet days in January. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 51% and peaks near 60% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
160
260
360
460
560
660
760
859
959
1058
1157
1256
1354
1453
1551
1649
1748
1846
1944
2043
2142
2242
2341
2442
2542
2642
2743
2844
2944
3045
3145

Humidity in January

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, January lands in the oppressive band about 70% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 98% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1218755
2218755
3217765
4217765
5217765
6217774
7217774
8218764
9219763
10220753
11221752
12222742
13224722
14225712
15226702
16228682
17229672
18230662
19231652
20232642
21233632
22233632
23233632
24233632
25232642
26232642
27231652
28230662
29230662
30229672
31228682

Wind in January

Winds average 17 km/h in January, the windiest month of the year.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 16 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
117light breeze
217light breeze
317light breeze
417light breeze
517light breeze
617light breeze
717light breeze
817light breeze
917light breeze
1017light breeze
1117light breeze
1217light breeze
1317light breeze
1417light breeze
1517light breeze
1617light breeze
1717light breeze
1816light breeze
1916light breeze
2016light breeze
2116light breeze
2216light breeze
2316light breeze
2416light breeze
2516light breeze
2616light breeze
2716light breeze
2816light breeze
2916light breeze
3016light breeze
3116light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 36 min at the start of January to 11 h 42 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 6 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 6:20 AM to 6:27 AM, and sunset from 5:53 PM to 6:06 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.66:205:53
211.66:205:54
311.66:205:54
411.66:215:55
511.66:215:55
611.66:225:56
711.66:225:56
811.66:225:57
911.66:235:57
1011.66:235:58
1111.66:235:58
1211.66:245:59
1311.66:245:59
1411.66:245:59
1511.66:246:00
1611.66:256:00
1711.66:256:01
1811.66:256:01
1911.66:256:02
2011.66:256:02
2111.66:266:03
2211.66:266:03
2311.66:266:03
2411.66:266:04
2511.66:266:04
2611.66:266:05
2711.66:266:05
2811.66:276:05
2911.76:276:06
3011.76:276:06
3111.76:276:06

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 4.71 kWh/m².

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 — January's 4.71 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.4Bright
24.4Bright
34.4Bright
44.4Bright
54.4Bright
64.4Bright
74.5Bright
84.5Bright
94.5Bright
104.5Bright
114.6Bright
124.6Bright
134.6Bright
144.7Bright
154.7Bright
164.7Bright
174.8Bright
184.8Bright
194.8Bright
204.8Bright
214.9Bright
224.9Bright
234.9Bright
244.9Bright
255.0Bright
265.0Bright
275.0Bright
285.0Bright
295.0Bright
305.0Bright
315.1Bright
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Batticaloa

In seasonPeak

In January, Batticaloa sits inside its 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 January a good time to visit Batticaloa?

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

5.6
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
5.7
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

January is a reasonable time to visit Batticaloa for sightseeing.

What to pack for Batticaloa in January

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

In January, Batticaloa sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 25°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes and sun protection. About 16 days see rain.

rain gearlight clothessun protection

Sea temperature near Batticaloa in January

The nearest coast averages about 27°C in January — 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 January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January 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 January

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where January 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
January 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).