Jaffna weather in March

In March, Jaffna sees average daytime highs of 29°C and overnight lows near 26°C, with 22 mm of rain across 3.4 wet days and about 11.9 hours of daylight. It is the 7th-warmest and 12th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 28°C in the first days to 30°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 62% 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 Jaffna's 1st-clearest and 12th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Jaffna's year-round climate.

Daytime high
29°
7th warmest
Overnight low
26°
5th coldest
Rainfall
22 mm
3.4 wet days
Daylight
11 h 54 min
6:22 AM – 6:18 PM
Cloud cover
37%
1st clearest
Wind
15 km/h
12th windiest
Solar energy
6.58 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.5
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 March

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 28°C in the first days to 30°C by the end.

A typical March day in Jaffna 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 2°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
52926
62926
72926
82926
92926
102926
112926
122926
132926
142926
152926
162926
172926
182927
192927
202927
213027
223027
233027
243027
253027
263027
273027
283027
293027
303027
313027

How March really feels in Jaffna

Once humidity and wind are folded in, March averages 23 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
23
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.

Jaffna weather by month

How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 7th-warmest and 12th-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 March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 62% of the time in March, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 23%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17525
27525
37525
47525
57525
67525
77525
87525
97624
107624
117624
127624
137624
147624
157723
167723
177723
187723
197822
207921
217921
227921
237921
247921
257921
267822
277822
287822
297723
307723
317624

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitation

Jaffna gets around 22 mm of rain over 3.4 wet days in March, the driest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 12% and peaks near 17% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
111
211
312
412
512
613
713
813
913
1013
1113
1213
1313
1413
1512
1612
1711
1811
1910
2010
2110
2210
2310
2410
2510
2611
2712
2813
2914
3015
3117

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 57% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
11196911
21186912
31186813
41176715
51166716
61156717
71146718
81146619
91136620
100126721
110116722
120106723
13096625
14096526
15086527
16076429
17066331
18066133
19056035
20045937
21045640
22035542
23035245
24034948
25024652
26024355
27024058
28023761
29013465
30013168
31012871

Wind in March

Winds average 15 km/h in March, the calmest month.

Across March, daily wind ranges from about 15 km/h on the calmest days to 17 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
117light breeze
217light breeze
317light breeze
416light breeze
516light breeze
616light breeze
716light breeze
816light breeze
916light breeze
1016light breeze
1116light breeze
1216light breeze
1316light breeze
1416light breeze
1515light breeze
1615light breeze
1715light breeze
1815light breeze
1915light breeze
2015light breeze
2115light breeze
2215light breeze
2315light breeze
2415light breeze
2515light breeze
2615light breeze
2715light breeze
2815light breeze
2915light breeze
3015light breeze
3115light breeze

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 6:29 AM to 6:13 AM, and sunset from 6:17 PM to 6:17 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.86:296:17
211.86:296:17
311.86:286:17
411.86:286:17
511.86:276:17
611.86:276:18
711.96:266:18
811.96:266:18
911.96:256:18
1011.96:256:18
1111.96:246:18
1211.96:246:18
1311.96:236:18
1411.96:236:18
1511.96:226:18
1611.96:226:18
1711.96:216:18
1812.06:206:18
1912.06:206:18
2012.06:196:18
2112.06:196:18
2212.06:186:17
2312.06:186:17
2412.06:176:17
2512.06:166:17
2612.06:166:17
2712.06:156:17
2812.06:156:17
2912.16:146:17
3012.16:136:17
3112.16:136:17

Solar energy in March

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 6.58 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

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 — March's 6.58 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.3Intense
26.3Intense
36.3Intense
46.3Intense
56.3Intense
66.4Intense
76.4Intense
86.4Intense
96.4Intense
106.4Intense
116.5Intense
126.5Intense
136.5Intense
146.5Intense
156.5Intense
166.6Intense
176.6Intense
186.6Intense
196.6Intense
206.7Intense
216.7Intense
226.7Intense
236.7Intense
246.7Intense
256.7Intense
266.7Intense
276.7Intense
286.7Intense
296.7Intense
306.6Intense
316.6Intense
Planning a trip in March

Hazard calendar for Jaffna

In seasonPeak

None of Jaffna's seasonal hazards are active in March. 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 March a good time to visit Jaffna?

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

6.5
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
8.3
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Jaffna in March

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

In March, Jaffna sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 26°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. About 3 days see rain.

light clothessun protection

Sea temperature near Jaffna 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 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 March

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 12 (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 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 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
March 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).