Hambantota weather in December

In December, Hambantota sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 153 mm of rain across 16.9 wet days and about 11.7 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 2nd-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 December, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 42 min at the start of December to 11 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Hambantota's 5th-clearest and 9th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Hambantota's year-round climate.

Daytime high
27°
12th warmest
Overnight low
25°
2nd coldest
Rainfall
153 mm
16.9 wet days
Daylight
11 h 36 min
6:12 AM – 5:51 PM
Cloud cover
67%
5th clearest
Wind
17 km/h
9th windiest
Solar energy
4.82 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.3
out of 10

Hambantota is main town in Hambantota District, Southern 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 Hambantota 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 on par with November and on par with January.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12825
22825
32825
42825
52825
62825
72825
82825
92825
102825
112825
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 Hambantota

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.

Hambantota weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 12th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan28° / 25°568.611.76.6
Feb28° / 25°427.911.86.5
Mar28° / 26°5811.3125.8
Apr29° / 27°11018.812.14.5
May29° / 26°10118.612.34.5
Jun28° / 26°6014.712.35.0
Jul28° / 26°4513.112.35.6
Aug28° / 26°521312.25.7
Sep28° / 26°8716.8125.2
Oct28° / 26°14120.211.94.8
Nov28° / 25°23123.211.74.3
Dec27° / 25°15316.911.75.3

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

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

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 13% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 62%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13664
23664
33763
43763
53763
63664
73664
83664
93664
103664
113565
123565
133664
143565
153664
163664
173664
183763
193862
203862
214060
224159
234159
244258
254258
264357
274258
284357
294357
304456
314555

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Hambantota gets around 153 mm of rain over 16.9 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 55% and peaks near 69% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
169
267
366
465
564
663
763
862
962
1061
1161
1261
1361
1460
1560
1659
1758
1857
1956
2055
2153
2251
2349
2447
2545
2643
2742
2840
2939
3038
3137

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 88% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
103934
204924
304924
404933
505923
605923
706913
806913
906913
1007903
1107903
1207903
1308893
1408902
1508902
1609892
1709892
18010882
19010882
20011872
21011872
22012862
23013852
24013852
25014842
26015832
27015832
28016822
29016822
30117802
31117802

Wind in December

Winds average 17 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 15 km/h on the calmest days to 19 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
115light breeze
215light breeze
315light breeze
415light breeze
515light breeze
615light breeze
716light breeze
816light breeze
916light breeze
1016light breeze
1116light breeze
1217light breeze
1317light breeze
1417light breeze
1517light breeze
1617light breeze
1718light breeze
1818light breeze
1918light breeze
2018light breeze
2118light breeze
2218light breeze
2318light breeze
2419light breeze
2519light breeze
2619light breeze
2719light breeze
2819light breeze
2919light breeze
3019light breeze
3119light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 42 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 shrink by about 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 6:05 AM to 6:19 AM, and sunset from 5:45 PM to 5:58 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.76:055:45
211.76:065:46
311.76:065:46
411.76:075:46
511.76:075:47
611.76:075:47
711.76:085:47
811.76:085:48
911.76:095:48
1011.76:095:49
1111.76:105:49
1211.76:105:49
1311.66:115:50
1411.66:115:50
1511.66:125:51
1611.66:125:51
1711.66:135:52
1811.66:135:52
1911.66:145:52
2011.66:145:53
2111.66:155:53
2211.66:155:54
2311.66:165:54
2411.66:165:55
2511.66:175:55
2611.66:175:56
2711.66:175:56
2811.66:185:57
2911.66:185:57
3011.66:195:58
3111.66:195:58

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.82 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.79 kWh/m² to a high of 6.46 kWh/m² in March across the year — December's 4.82 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.8Bright
24.8Bright
34.8Bright
44.8Bright
54.8Bright
64.8Bright
74.8Bright
84.8Bright
94.8Bright
104.8Bright
114.8Bright
124.8Bright
134.8Bright
144.8Bright
154.7Bright
164.7Bright
174.7Bright
184.7Bright
194.8Bright
204.8Bright
214.8Bright
224.8Bright
234.8Bright
244.9Bright
254.9Bright
264.9Bright
275.0Bright
285.0Bright
295.0Bright
305.0Bright
315.1Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Hambantota

In seasonPeak

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

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

Hambantota's rainy season runs October–December, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is December a good time to visit Hambantota?

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

5.3
Sightseeing
6th-best month of the year
5.6
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Hambantota for sightseeing.

What to pack for Hambantota in December

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

In December, Hambantota sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 17 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Hambantota 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 offshore is warmest in April at about 29°C and coldest in August near 27°C.

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

26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb28Warm
Mar29Tropical
Apr29Tropical
May29Tropical
Jun28Warm
Jul28Warm
Aug27Warm
Sep28Warm
Oct28Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec28Warm

UV index in Hambantota 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 Hambantota peaks around April 16 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 10 (extreme).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeApr 16UV 14Dec 19UV 10
UV index (midday)Level
Jan11Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May13Extreme
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep13Extreme
Oct13Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec10Extreme

Air quality in Hambantota 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 Hambantota is worst in November — around 21 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), and holds fairly steady the rest of the year.

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateNov 2121 µg/m³Sep 1416 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan21Moderate
Feb19Moderate
Mar20Moderate
Apr20Moderate
May20Moderate
Jun17Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug17Moderate
Sep16Moderate
Oct18Moderate
Nov21Moderate
Dec20Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Hambantota?

Hambantota sits at 6.1°N, 81.1°E, 10 m above sea level, in Sri Lanka. The nearest listed city is Ambalantota, 11 km away.

KataragamaBeliattaDevinuwaraMataraMirissaWeligamaElla

Topography around Hambantota

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Hambantota has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 35 m around an average of 4 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 96 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,105 m.

The land around Hambantota is covered by water (62%) within 3 km, water (54%) and trees (22%) within 16 km, and trees (56%) and water (34%) within 80 km.

3 km
35 m
16 km
96 m
80 km
2,105 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
December weather nearby: Ambalantota 11 km · Kataragama 40 km · Beliatta 43 km · Devinuwara 62 km · Matara 67 km · Mirissa 76 km · Weligama 78 km · Ella 84 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 Hambantota (6.1241°, 81.1185°, elevation 10 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).