Matale in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Matale sees average daytime highs around 29°C and overnight lows near 21°C, with 327 mm of rain over about 36 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the 3rd-wettest season.
Over the season highs climb from about 28°C in early December to 31°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 21% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Winter is Matale's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Matale's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 29°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 21°C
- Rainfall
- 327 mm
- 36 wet days
- Avg wind
- 9 km/h
- Travel score
- 5.2
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Matale in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 28°C in early December to 31°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Matale reaches about 29°C and drops to 21°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Matale
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 18 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.
Matale 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 | 28° / 21° | 79 | 10 | 11.6 | 5.6 |
| Feb | 30° / 21° | 63 | 8.5 | 11.8 | 5.0 |
| Mar | 32° / 22° | 83 | 11.6 | 11.9 | 3.8 |
| Apr | 32° / 23° | 196 | 21 | 12.2 | 3.1 |
| May | 30° / 24° | 130 | 22.4 | 12.3 | 3.4 |
| Jun | 29° / 23° | 99 | 23.8 | 12.4 | 3.5 |
| Jul | 29° / 23° | 103 | 24.3 | 12.4 | 3.6 |
| Aug | 29° / 23° | 98 | 23.2 | 12.2 | 3.8 |
| Sep | 29° / 23° | 109 | 21.2 | 12 | 3.8 |
| Oct | 29° / 22° | 312 | 25.2 | 11.8 | 3.5 |
| Nov | 29° / 22° | 310 | 22.7 | 11.7 | 3.8 |
| Dec | 28° / 21° | 185 | 17.8 | 11.6 | 4.9 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 21% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Matale gets around 327 mm of rain over 36 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 9 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 4.8 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Matale
In winter, Matale overlaps its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Matale's rainy season runs October–December, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Matale?
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 Matale for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Matale in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Matale sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 21°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 36 days see rain.
UV index in Matale 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 Matale peaks around April 19 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 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) | 10 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10 | Extreme |
| Feb | 13 | Extreme |
| Mar | 13 | Extreme |
| Apr | 14 | Extreme |
| May | 14 | Extreme |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 12 | Extreme |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 10 | Very high |
Air quality in Matale 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 Matale is worst in November — around 60 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 2.4× the cleanest month (July, 25 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) | 45 | 41 | 57 | 59 | 42 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 30 | 49 | 60 | 52 |
| Level | Poor | Poor | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Unhealthy | Poor |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45 | Poor |
| Feb | 41 | Poor |
| Mar | 57 | Unhealthy |
| Apr | 59 | Unhealthy |
| May | 42 | Poor |
| Jun | 27 | Moderate |
| Jul | 25 | Moderate |
| Aug | 26 | Moderate |
| Sep | 30 | Moderate |
| Oct | 49 | Poor |
| Nov | 60 | Unhealthy |
| Dec | 52 | Poor |
Where is Matale?
Matale sits at 7.5°N, 80.6°E, 366 m above sea level, in Sri Lanka. The nearest listed city is Kandy, 20 km away.
Topography around Matale
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Matale.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Matale has large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 876 m around an average of 471 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,752 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,502 m.
The land around Matale is covered by trees (88%) within 3 km, trees (94%) within 16 km, and trees (83%) 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 Matale (7.4698°, 80.6217°, elevation 366 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.