Kataragama in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Kataragama sees average daytime highs around 30°C and overnight lows near 22°C, with 350 mm of rain over about 39 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the 2nd-wettest season.
Over the season highs climb from about 29°C in early December to 32°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 24% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Winter is Kataragama's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Kataragama's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 30°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 22°C
- Rainfall
- 350 mm
- 39 wet days
- Avg wind
- 10 km/h
- Travel score
- 4.5
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Kataragama in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 29°C in early December to 32°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Kataragama reaches about 30°C and drops to 22°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Kataragama
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 76 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.
Kataragama 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 | 30° / 22° | 96 | 10.7 | 11.7 | 5.0 |
| Feb | 31° / 22° | 62 | 9.8 | 11.8 | 4.4 |
| Mar | 33° / 22° | 76 | 11.8 | 12 | 3.4 |
| Apr | 33° / 24° | 148 | 20.5 | 12.1 | 2.7 |
| May | 33° / 25° | 78 | 13.4 | 12.3 | 3.0 |
| Jun | 34° / 25° | 24 | 5.8 | 12.4 | 3.0 |
| Jul | 35° / 25° | 20 | 4.4 | 12.3 | 2.9 |
| Aug | 35° / 25° | 24 | 5.8 | 12.2 | 2.8 |
| Sep | 34° / 25° | 52 | 10.2 | 12 | 2.8 |
| Oct | 32° / 24° | 193 | 18.8 | 11.9 | 2.9 |
| Nov | 30° / 23° | 283 | 23.8 | 11.7 | 3.2 |
| Dec | 29° / 22° | 192 | 18.1 | 11.6 | 4.2 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 24% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Kataragama gets around 350 mm of rain over 39 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 10 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 42 min in early December to 11 h 54 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 5.1 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Kataragama
In winter, Kataragama overlaps its cyclone and monsoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Kataragama sits in the North Indian Ocean cyclone zone; the season peaks May and October–November.
Kataragama's monsoon runs October–December, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Kataragama?
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 Kataragama for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Kataragama in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Kataragama sees daytime highs around 30°C and nights near 22°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 39 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Kataragama 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 at the nearest coast (about 32 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 |
| Comfort | Warm | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Warm |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27 | Warm |
| Feb | 28 | Warm |
| Mar | 29 | Tropical |
| Apr | 30 | Tropical |
| May | 29 | Tropical |
| Jun | 28 | Tropical |
| Jul | 28 | Tropical |
| Aug | 28 | Warm |
| Sep | 28 | Warm |
| Oct | 28 | Tropical |
| Nov | 29 | Tropical |
| Dec | 28 | Warm |
UV index in Kataragama 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 Kataragama peaks around April 16 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 18 at about 10 (extreme).
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 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Extreme |
| Feb | 13 | Extreme |
| Mar | 13 | Extreme |
| Apr | 14 | Extreme |
| May | 13 | Extreme |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 12 | Extreme |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 10 | Extreme |
Air quality in Kataragama 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 Kataragama is worst in November — around 48 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 1.8× the cleanest month (July, 27 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) | 42 | 36 | 41 | 44 | 36 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 41 | 48 | 44 |
| Level | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42 | Poor |
| Feb | 36 | Poor |
| Mar | 41 | Poor |
| Apr | 44 | Poor |
| May | 36 | Poor |
| Jun | 27 | Moderate |
| Jul | 27 | Moderate |
| Aug | 28 | Moderate |
| Sep | 29 | Moderate |
| Oct | 41 | Poor |
| Nov | 48 | Poor |
| Dec | 44 | Poor |
Where is Kataragama?
Kataragama sits at 6.4°N, 81.3°E, 48 m above sea level, in Sri Lanka. The nearest listed city is Hambantota, 40 km away.
Topography around Kataragama
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Kataragama.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Kataragama has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 371 m around an average of 70 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 401 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,334 m.
The land around Kataragama is covered by trees (80%) within 3 km, trees (83%) within 16 km, and trees (58%) and water (30%) 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 Kataragama (6.4134°, 81.3346°, elevation 48 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.