Jaffna weather in January

In January, Jaffna sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 62 mm of rain across 6.7 wet days and about 11.5 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 5th-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 37% of the time in January, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 24 min at the start of January to 11 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Jaffna's 4th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Jaffna's year-round climate.

Daytime high
27°
12th warmest
Overnight low
25°
1st coldest
Rainfall
62 mm
6.7 wet days
Daylight
11 h 30 min
6:34 AM – 6:04 PM
Cloud cover
55%
4th clearest
Wind
21 km/h
7th windiest
Solar energy
5 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.0
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 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 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 27°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs on par with December and about 1°C cooler than 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 Jaffna

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.

Jaffna weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 12th-warmest and 5th-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 January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% of the time in January.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 20% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 43%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15248
25347
35446
45545
55644
65545
75545
85545
95644
105644
115644
125644
135644
145644
155743
165842
175842
185842
195842
205842
215842
225842
235941
245941
256040
266040
276040
286139
296139
306238
316238

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Jaffna gets around 62 mm of rain over 6.7 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 23% and peaks near 36% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
136
235
334
433
532
630
729
828
927
1027
1126
1225
1324
1423
1522
1621
1720
1819
1919
2018
2117
2217
2317
2417
2517
2618
2718
2818
2919
3019
3119

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 52% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 95% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1432613
2432613
3432613
4432613
5532603
6533593
7533593
8534592
9635572
10636562
11637552
12638542
13739522
14740521
15741511
16743491
17744481
18745471
19746461
20747461
21647461
22648451
23648461
24648461
25547471
26547481
27546481
28445491
29445501
30444511
31443521

Wind in January

Winds average 21 km/h in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 20 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
122breezy
222breezy
322breezy
422breezy
522breezy
622breezy
722breezy
822breezy
922breezy
1022breezy
1121breezy
1221breezy
1321breezy
1421breezy
1521breezy
1621breezy
1721breezy
1821breezy
1921breezy
2021breezy
2121breezy
2221breezy
2321breezy
2420breezy
2520breezy
2620breezy
2720breezy
2820breezy
2920breezy
3020breezy
3120breezy

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 24 min at the start of January to 11 h 36 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 12 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 6:30 AM to 6:36 AM, and sunset from 5:56 PM to 6:11 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.46:305:56
211.46:305:57
311.46:315:57
411.56:315:58
511.56:315:59
611.56:325:59
711.56:326:00
811.56:326:00
911.56:336:01
1011.56:336:01
1111.56:336:02
1211.56:346:02
1311.56:346:03
1411.56:346:03
1511.56:346:04
1611.56:346:04
1711.56:356:05
1811.56:356:05
1911.56:356:05
2011.56:356:06
2111.56:356:06
2211.56:366:07
2311.56:366:07
2411.56:366:08
2511.56:366:08
2611.56:366:09
2711.56:366:09
2811.66:366:09
2911.66:366:10
3011.66:366:10
3111.66:366:11

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 5 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 — January's 5 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.5Bright
24.6Bright
34.6Bright
44.6Bright
54.7Bright
64.7Bright
74.7Bright
84.7Bright
94.8Bright
104.8Bright
114.8Bright
124.9Bright
134.9Bright
144.9Bright
155.0Bright
165.0Bright
175.0Bright
185.1Bright
195.1Bright
205.1Bright
215.2Bright
225.2Bright
235.2Bright
245.2Bright
255.3Bright
265.3Bright
275.3Bright
285.3Bright
295.4Bright
305.4Bright
315.4Bright
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Jaffna

In seasonPeak

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

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 January a good time to visit Jaffna?

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

7.0
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
7.0
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

January is one of the better times to visit Jaffna for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Jaffna in January

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

In January, Jaffna sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 25°C. Worth packing: light clothes, sun protection and a windbreaker. About 7 days see rain.

light clothessun protectiona windbreaker

Sea temperature near Jaffna 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 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 January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 8 — enough to warrant sun protection. 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 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 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
January 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).