Jaffna weather in December

In December, Jaffna sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 200 mm of rain across 16.3 wet days and about 11.4 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-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 24% of the time in December, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 30 min at the start of December to 11 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Jaffna's 6th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Jaffna's year-round climate.

Daytime high
27°
11th warmest
Overnight low
25°
2nd coldest
Rainfall
200 mm
16.3 wet days
Daylight
11 h 24 min
6:23 AM – 5:49 PM
Cloud cover
66%
6th clearest
Wind
22 km/h
6th windiest
Solar energy
4.25 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.5
out of 10

Jaffna is capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.

Density
8,371/km²
people per km²
Founded
1621

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 Jaffna 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)
12726
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 Jaffna

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.

Jaffna weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan27° / 25°626.711.57.0
Feb28° / 25°254.211.77.4
Mar29° / 26°223.411.96.5
Apr30° / 28°457.712.25.2
May30° / 28°587.612.45.0
Jun30° / 28°275.512.65.2
Jul30° / 28°339.212.54.9
Aug29° / 28°4810.512.35.0
Sep29° / 27°671212.14.9
Oct29° / 27°20820.911.84.2
Nov28° / 26°3132211.64.5
Dec27° / 25°20016.311.45.5

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 24% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 17% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 59%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13763
23763
33862
43961
53961
63961
73961
83961
93862
103862
113862
123862
133862
143862
153862
163862
173862
183862
193961
204060
214159
224159
234357
244456
254555
264654
274951
284951
295050
305149
315248

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Jaffna gets around 200 mm of rain over 16.3 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 52% and peaks near 63% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
163
261
360
459
558
657
756
856
955
1055
1155
1255
1355
1455
1555
1655
1755
1854
1954
2053
2152
2251
2349
2448
2546
2644
2742
2841
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 66% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 98% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
11146718
21156717
31166716
41176715
51186714
61186813
71196812
81196812
91206811
101206811
111206910
121216810
13121699
14121699
15122698
16122698
17123697
18124687
19225676
20226666
21227665
22228655
23229645
24229654
25330634
26331624
27332614
28332623
29332623
30432613
31432613

Wind in December

Winds average 22 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 21 km/h on the calmest days to 22 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
121breezy
221breezy
321breezy
421breezy
521breezy
621breezy
721breezy
821breezy
922breezy
1022breezy
1122breezy
1222breezy
1322breezy
1422breezy
1522breezy
1622breezy
1722breezy
1822breezy
1922breezy
2022breezy
2122breezy
2222breezy
2322breezy
2422breezy
2522breezy
2622breezy
2722breezy
2822breezy
2922breezy
3022breezy
3122breezy

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 30 min at the start of December to 11 h 24 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 6:15 AM to 6:30 AM, and sunset from 5:44 PM to 5:56 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.56:155:44
211.56:165:44
311.56:165:45
411.56:175:45
511.56:175:45
611.56:185:45
711.56:185:46
811.56:195:46
911.56:195:47
1011.46:205:47
1111.46:205:47
1211.46:215:48
1311.46:215:48
1411.46:225:48
1511.46:225:49
1611.46:235:49
1711.46:235:50
1811.46:245:50
1911.46:245:51
2011.46:255:51
2111.46:255:52
2211.46:265:52
2311.46:265:52
2411.46:275:53
2511.46:275:53
2611.46:285:54
2711.46:285:54
2811.46:295:55
2911.46:295:55
3011.46:295:56
3111.46:305:56

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.25 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.22 kWh/m² to a high of 6.58 kWh/m² in March across the year — December's 4.25 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

024151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.2Bright
24.2Bright
34.2Bright
44.2Bright
54.2Bright
64.2Bright
74.2Bright
84.2Bright
94.2Bright
104.2Bright
114.2Bright
124.2Bright
134.2Bright
144.2Bright
154.2Bright
164.2Bright
174.2Bright
184.2Bright
194.2Bright
204.3Bright
214.3Bright
224.3Bright
234.3Bright
244.3Bright
254.4Bright
264.4Bright
274.4Bright
284.5Bright
294.5Bright
304.5Bright
314.5Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Jaffna

In seasonPeak

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

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

Jaffna's monsoon runs October–December, 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 Jaffna?

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

5.5
Sightseeing
4th-best month of the year
5.6
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Jaffna for sightseeing.

What to pack for Jaffna in December

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

In December, Jaffna sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 25°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes and a windbreaker. About 16 days see rain.

rain gearlight clothesa windbreaker

Sea temperature near Jaffna in December

The nearest coast averages about 27°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 14 km away) is warmest in April 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
Feb27Warm
Mar29Tropical
Apr30Tropical
May30Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov28Tropical
Dec27Warm

UV index in Jaffna in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 9 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Jaffna peaks around August 17 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 11 at about 8 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highAug 17UV 13Jan 11UV 8
UV index (midday)Level
Jan8Very high
Feb12Extreme
Mar12Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May13Extreme
Jun11Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug14Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec9Very high

Air quality in Jaffna 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 Jaffna is worst in May — around 24 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), and holds fairly steady the rest of the year.

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateMay 1623 µg/m³Sep 1817 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan20Moderate
Feb19Moderate
Mar20Moderate
Apr20Moderate
May24Moderate
Jun19Moderate
Jul18Moderate
Aug19Moderate
Sep17Moderate
Oct18Moderate
Nov17Moderate
Dec19Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Jaffna?

Jaffna sits at 9.7°N, 80.0°E, 7 m above sea level, in Sri Lanka. The nearest listed city is Valvedditturai, 24 km away.

ValvedditturaiPoint PedroMannarMullaittivuVavuniyaAnuradhapuraTrincomaleePuttalam

Topography around Jaffna

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Jaffna has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 16 m around an average of 4 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 22 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 99 m.

The land around Jaffna is covered by water (45%), trees (26%) and artificial surfaces (22%) within 3 km, water (46%) and trees (24%) within 16 km, and water (77%) within 80 km.

3 km
16 m
16 km
22 m
80 km
99 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetlandmangroves
December weather nearby: Valvedditturai 24 km · Point Pedro 30 km · Mannar 77 km · Mullaittivu 99 km · Vavuniya 115 km · Anuradhapura 157 km · Trincomalee 181 km · Puttalam 183 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 Jaffna (9.6684°, 80.0074°, elevation 7 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).