Ja Ela in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Ja Ela sees average daytime highs around 31°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 309 mm of rain over about 33 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 30°C in early December to 33°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 28% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Winter is Ja Ela's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Ja Ela's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 31°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 23°C
- Rainfall
- 309 mm
- 33 wet days
- Avg wind
- 8 km/h
- Travel score
- 4.1
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Ja Ela in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 30°C in early December to 33°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Ja Ela reaches about 31°C and drops to 23°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Ja Ela
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 90 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in winter is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Ja Ela weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31° / 23° | 66 | 8.4 | 11.6 | 4.4 |
| Feb | 33° / 24° | 65 | 8.6 | 11.8 | 3.8 |
| Mar | 33° / 25° | 94 | 14.8 | 12 | 3.1 |
| Apr | 32° / 25° | 192 | 25.4 | 12.2 | 2.5 |
| May | 31° / 26° | 264 | 29.4 | 12.3 | 2.5 |
| Jun | 30° / 25° | 279 | 28.7 | 12.4 | 2.7 |
| Jul | 29° / 25° | 245 | 29.2 | 12.4 | 2.9 |
| Aug | 29° / 25° | 219 | 29.1 | 12.2 | 2.9 |
| Sep | 29° / 25° | 247 | 27.8 | 12 | 2.9 |
| Oct | 30° / 24° | 359 | 28.2 | 11.8 | 2.9 |
| Nov | 30° / 24° | 337 | 23.9 | 11.7 | 3.2 |
| Dec | 30° / 23° | 178 | 16.1 | 11.6 | 4.1 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 28% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Ja Ela gets around 309 mm of rain over 33 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 8 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 36 min in early December to 11 h 48 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 5.3 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Ja Ela
In winter, Ja Ela overlaps its cyclone season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Ja Ela sits in the North Indian Ocean cyclone zone; the season peaks May and October–November.
Is winter a good time to visit Ja Ela?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a reasonable time to visit Ja Ela for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Ja Ela in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Ja Ela sees daytime highs around 31°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 33 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Ja Ela in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 28°C across winter — 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 30°C and coldest in August near 27°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 |
| Comfort | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm | Warm | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28 | Warm |
| Feb | 28 | Tropical |
| Mar | 29 | Tropical |
| Apr | 30 | Tropical |
| May | 29 | Tropical |
| Jun | 28 | Tropical |
| Jul | 28 | Warm |
| Aug | 27 | Warm |
| Sep | 28 | Warm |
| Oct | 28 | Tropical |
| Nov | 29 | Tropical |
| Dec | 28 | Tropical |
UV index in Ja Ela in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Ja Ela peaks around February 17 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 15 at about 10 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Extreme |
| Feb | 13 | Extreme |
| Mar | 12 | Extreme |
| Apr | 12 | Extreme |
| May | 12 | Extreme |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 12 | Extreme |
| Nov | 10 | Extreme |
| Dec | 10 | Very high |
Air quality in Ja Ela in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Ja Ela is worst in January — around 84 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 2.8× the cleanest month (July, 29 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 84 | 78 | 73 | 62 | 44 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 35 | 52 | 74 | 81 |
| Level | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Poor | Unhealthy | Unhealthy |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 84 | Unhealthy |
| Feb | 78 | Unhealthy |
| Mar | 73 | Unhealthy |
| Apr | 62 | Unhealthy |
| May | 44 | Poor |
| Jun | 31 | Moderate |
| Jul | 29 | Moderate |
| Aug | 30 | Moderate |
| Sep | 35 | Poor |
| Oct | 52 | Poor |
| Nov | 74 | Unhealthy |
| Dec | 81 | Unhealthy |
Where is Ja Ela?
Ja Ela sits at 7.1°N, 79.9°E, 13 m above sea level, in Sri Lanka. The nearest listed city is Kandana, 3.0 km away.
Topography around Ja Ela
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Ja Ela.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Ja Ela has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 40 m around an average of 9 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 79 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,145 m.
The land around Ja Ela is covered by trees (61%) and artificial surfaces (28%) within 3 km, trees (45%) and water (35%) within 16 km, and trees (61%) and water (34%) within 80 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
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 Ja Ela (7.0744°, 79.8919°, elevation 13 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.