Batticaloa weather in March

In March, Batticaloa sees average daytime highs of 29°C and overnight lows near 26°C, with 52 mm of rain across 8.3 wet days and about 11.9 hours of daylight. It is the 8th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 29°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time in March, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 48 min at the start of March to 12 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is Batticaloa's 1st-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Batticaloa's year-round climate.

Daytime high
29°
8th warmest
Overnight low
26°
5th coldest
Rainfall
52 mm
8.3 wet days
Daylight
11 h 54 min
6:14 AM – 6:11 PM
Cloud cover
45%
1st clearest
Wind
12 km/h
5th windiest
Solar energy
6.43 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.1
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 March

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 29°C through the month.

A typical March day in Batticaloa reaches about 29°C in the afternoon and slips back to 26°C overnight — a 3°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 28°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, March runs about 1°C warmer than February and about 1°C cooler than April.

20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12826
22826
32826
42826
52826
62826
72826
82826
92826
102826
112826
122826
132826
142926
152926
162926
172926
182926
192926
202926
212926
222926
232926
242926
252926
262926
272926
282926
292926
302926
312926

How March really feels in Batticaloa

Once humidity and wind are folded in, March averages 17 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
17
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in March is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Batticaloa weather by month

How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 8th-warmest and 7th-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 March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time in March, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 33%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16337
26337
36436
46436
56535
66535
76535
86634
96733
106733
116733
126733
136733
146733
156733
166832
176832
186832
196832
206832
216931
226931
236931
246931
256832
266931
276832
286832
296733
306634
316634

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitation

Batticaloa gets around 52 mm of rain over 8.3 wet days in March. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 28% and peaks near 32% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
132
232
332
432
531
631
731
831
931
1030
1130
1229
1328
1427
1527
1626
1725
1824
1924
2024
2123
2223
2323
2423
2524
2624
2725
2827
2928
3030
3131

Humidity in March

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, March lands in the oppressive band about 63% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
11167013
21157113
31157014
41147015
51147015
61137016
71137016
81127017
90127117
100117118
110107218
120107119
13097219
14097120
15087121
16087022
17077023
18066925
19066727
20056629
21056332
22046234
23045937
24045640
25035443
26035047
27034750
28024553
29024256
30023959
31013762

Wind in March

Winds average 12 km/h in March.

Across March, daily wind ranges from about 11 km/h on the calmest days to 13 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
113light breeze
213light breeze
313light breeze
413light breeze
512light breeze
612light breeze
712light breeze
812light breeze
912light breeze
1012light breeze
1112light breeze
1212calm
1312calm
1412calm
1512calm
1612calm
1712calm
1812calm
1912calm
2011calm
2111calm
2211calm
2311calm
2411calm
2511calm
2611calm
2711calm
2811calm
2911calm
3011calm
3111calm

Sunrise & sunset in March

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 48 min at the start of March to 12 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 18 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 6:21 AM to 6:07 AM, and sunset from 6:12 PM to 6:10 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.86:216:12
211.86:216:12
311.96:206:12
411.96:206:12
511.96:206:12
611.96:196:12
711.96:196:12
811.96:186:12
911.96:186:12
1011.96:176:12
1111.96:176:12
1211.96:166:12
1311.96:166:11
1411.96:156:11
1511.96:156:11
1611.96:146:11
1712.06:146:11
1812.06:136:11
1912.06:136:11
2012.06:126:11
2112.06:126:11
2212.06:116:11
2312.06:116:11
2412.06:106:11
2512.06:106:11
2612.06:096:10
2712.06:096:10
2812.06:086:10
2912.06:086:10
3012.06:076:10
3112.16:076:10

Solar energy in March

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 6.43 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

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 — March's 6.43 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.1Intense
26.1Intense
36.1Intense
46.1Intense
56.2Intense
66.2Intense
76.2Intense
86.2Intense
96.3Intense
106.3Intense
116.3Intense
126.3Intense
136.4Intense
146.4Intense
156.4Intense
166.4Intense
176.5Intense
186.5Intense
196.5Intense
206.5Intense
216.5Intense
226.5Intense
236.6Intense
246.6Intense
256.6Intense
266.5Intense
276.5Intense
286.5Intense
296.5Intense
306.5Intense
316.5Intense
Planning a trip in March

Hazard calendar for Batticaloa

In seasonPeak

None of Batticaloa's seasonal hazards are active in March. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

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 March a good time to visit Batticaloa?

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

6.1
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
7.4
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

March is a reasonable time to visit Batticaloa for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Batticaloa in March

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

In March, Batticaloa sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 26°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 8 days see rain.

light clothessun protectionrain gear

Sea temperature near Batticaloa in March

The nearest coast averages about 29°C in March — 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 March

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 13 (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 March

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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