Trincomalee weather in December

In December, Trincomalee sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 277 mm of rain across 20.9 wet days and about 11.5 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 2nd-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 16% 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 30 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Trincomalee's 6th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Trincomalee's year-round climate.

Daytime high
27°
11th warmest
Overnight low
25°
3rd coldest
Rainfall
277 mm
20.9 wet days
Daylight
11 h 30 min
6:16 AM – 5:46 PM
Cloud cover
71%
6th clearest
Wind
16 km/h
7th windiest
Solar energy
4.16 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.7
out of 10

Trincomalee is city in Sri Lanka.

Density
14,456/km²
people per km²

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 Trincomalee reaches about 27°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 3°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)
12825
22825
32825
42825
52825
62825
72825
82825
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 Trincomalee

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.

Trincomalee weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan27° / 25°12614.511.65.8
Feb28° / 25°739.711.76.3
Mar29° / 25°407.211.95.8
Apr31° / 26°561012.24.4
May33° / 27°488.212.43.6
Jun33° / 27°183.212.53.6
Jul33° / 27°315.512.43.6
Aug33° / 27°457.812.33.6
Sep33° / 26°6510.712.13.5
Oct31° / 26°18618.511.83.6
Nov28° / 25°30024.111.63.9
Dec27° / 25°27720.911.54.7

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 16% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 19% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 65%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13169
23169
33169
43169
53169
63169
73268
83169
93169
103169
113169
123169
133268
143268
153268
163466
173466
183565
193565
203763
213763
223862
233961
244060
254060
264357
274357
284357
294456
304456
314456

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Trincomalee gets around 277 mm of rain over 20.9 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 68% and peaks near 73% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
173
272
370
469
569
668
768
868
968
1068
1169
1269
1369
1470
1570
1670
1771
1871
1970
2070
2170
2269
2368
2467
2565
2664
2763
2861
2960
3060
3159

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 74% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 98% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
10107713
20117613
30127612
41127512
51137511
60137611
70147511
80147610
90147610
100147610
11014779
12114769
13114769
14114769
15114778
16115768
17115768
18115777
19116767
20217756
21217756
22218746
23219745
24320725
25321715
26322714
27323704
28424684
29424693
30425683
31425683

Wind in December

Winds average 16 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 14 km/h on the calmest days to 16 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
114light breeze
214light breeze
314light breeze
415light breeze
515light breeze
615light breeze
715light breeze
815light breeze
915light breeze
1015light breeze
1115light breeze
1216light breeze
1316light breeze
1416light breeze
1516light breeze
1616light breeze
1716light breeze
1816light breeze
1916light breeze
2016light breeze
2116light breeze
2216light breeze
2316light breeze
2416light breeze
2516light breeze
2616light breeze
2716light breeze
2816light breeze
2916light breeze
3016light breeze
3116light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 30 min at the start of December to 11 h 30 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 0 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 6:09 AM to 6:23 AM, and sunset from 5:41 PM to 5:53 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.56:095:41
211.56:095:41
311.56:105:41
411.56:105:42
511.56:115:42
611.56:115:42
711.56:125:43
811.56:125:43
911.56:135:44
1011.56:135:44
1111.56:145:44
1211.56:145:45
1311.56:155:45
1411.56:155:45
1511.56:165:46
1611.56:165:46
1711.56:175:47
1811.56:175:47
1911.56:185:48
2011.56:185:48
2111.56:195:49
2211.56:195:49
2311.56:205:50
2411.56:205:50
2511.56:205:50
2611.56:215:51
2711.56:215:51
2811.56:225:52
2911.56:225:52
3011.56:235:53
3111.56:235:53

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.16 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.16 kWh/m² to a high of 6.51 kWh/m² in March across the year — December's 4.16 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

012345151015202531
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
114.1Bright
124.1Bright
134.1Bright
144.1Bright
154.1Bright
164.1Bright
174.1Bright
184.1Bright
194.1Bright
204.1Bright
214.1Bright
224.1Bright
234.2Bright
244.2Bright
254.2Bright
264.2Bright
274.2Bright
284.3Bright
294.3Bright
304.3Bright
314.3Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Trincomalee

In seasonPeak

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

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

Trincomalee'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 Trincomalee?

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

4.7
Sightseeing
4th-best month of the year
4.9
Beach & pool
11th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Trincomalee for sightseeing.

What to pack for Trincomalee in December

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

In December, Trincomalee sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. About 21 days see rain.

light clothesrain gear

Sea temperature near Trincomalee in December

The nearest coast averages about 28°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 17 km away) is warmest in May 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
Feb28Warm
Mar29Tropical
Apr30Tropical
May30Tropical
Jun30Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec28Warm

UV index in Trincomalee 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 Trincomalee peaks around May 10 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 9 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highMay 10UV 13Dec 20UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan10Very high
Feb12Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May14Extreme
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct13Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec9Very high

Air quality in Trincomalee 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 Trincomalee is worst in May — around 28 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), and holds fairly steady the rest of the year.

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateMay 1028 µg/m³Jul 2120 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan22Moderate
Feb21Moderate
Mar24Moderate
Apr27Moderate
May28Moderate
Jun21Moderate
Jul20Moderate
Aug20Moderate
Sep21Moderate
Oct25Moderate
Nov24Moderate
Dec22Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Trincomalee?

Trincomalee sits at 8.6°N, 81.2°E, 10 m above sea level, in Sri Lanka. The nearest listed city is Vakarai, 54 km away.

VakaraiPolonnaruwaVavuniyaSigiriyaMullaittivuAnuradhapuraEravur TownDambulla

Topography around Trincomalee

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Trincomalee has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 78 m around an average of 5 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 161 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 684 m.

The land around Trincomalee is covered by water (62%) within 3 km, water (55%) and trees (24%) within 16 km, and trees (41%) and water (38%) within 80 km.

3 km
78 m
16 km
161 m
80 km
684 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwatermangroves
December weather nearby: Vakarai 54 km · Polonnaruwa 75 km · Vavuniya 83 km · Sigiriya 87 km · Mullaittivu 89 km · Anuradhapura 94 km · Eravur Town 98 km · Dambulla 102 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 Trincomalee (8.5778°, 81.2289°, elevation 10 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).