Trincomalee weather in January

In January, Trincomalee sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 126 mm of rain across 14.5 wet days and about 11.6 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 4th-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 25% of the time in January, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 30 min at the start of January to 11 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Trincomalee's 4th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Trincomalee's year-round climate.

Daytime high
27°
12th warmest
Overnight low
25°
1st coldest
Rainfall
126 mm
14.5 wet days
Daylight
11 h 36 min
6:28 AM – 6:01 PM
Cloud cover
63%
4th clearest
Wind
16 km/h
6th windiest
Solar energy
4.72 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.8
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 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 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, January runs on par with December and on par with February.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12725
22725
32725
42725
52725
62725
72725
82725
92725
102725
112724
122724
132724
142724
152724
162724
172724
182724
192724
202724
212724
222724
232724
242725
252725
262725
272725
282725
292725
302725
312725

How January really feels in Trincomalee

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.

Trincomalee weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 12th-warmest and 4th-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 January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 25% of the time in January.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 23% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 52%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14654
24654
34753
44753
54753
64753
74753
84852
94852
104852
114852
124852
134951
144852
154951
164951
174951
184951
194852
204852
214852
224753
234753
244852
254951
264951
275050
285050
295050
305050
315149

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Trincomalee gets around 126 mm of rain over 14.5 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 48% and peaks near 59% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
159
258
358
458
558
657
757
856
956
1055
1154
1253
1351
1450
1548
1647
1745
1844
1942
2041
2140
2239
2339
2438
2538
2639
2739
2839
2940
3040
3140

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 61% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 96% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1425683
2425683
3425683
4425683
5425692
6425692
7425692
8425692
9426682
10427672
11428671
12429661
13430651
14432631
15433621
16435601
17436591
18438571
19439561
20440551
21441541
22442531
23342541
24342541
25342541
26341551
27340561
28339571
29338581
30337591
31336601

Wind in January

Winds average 16 km/h in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 16 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
116light breeze
216light breeze
316light breeze
416light breeze
516light breeze
616light breeze
716light breeze
816light breeze
916light breeze
1016light breeze
1116light 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 January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 30 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 6 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 6:23 AM to 6:30 AM, and sunset from 5:53 PM to 6:07 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.56:235:53
211.56:235:54
311.56:245:54
411.56:245:55
511.56:255:56
611.56:255:56
711.56:255:57
811.56:265:57
911.56:265:58
1011.56:265:58
1111.56:275:58
1211.56:275:59
1311.56:275:59
1411.56:276:00
1511.56:286:00
1611.66:286:01
1711.66:286:01
1811.66:286:02
1911.66:286:02
2011.66:296:03
2111.66:296:03
2211.66:296:04
2311.66:296:04
2411.66:296:04
2511.66:296:05
2611.66:296:05
2711.66:306:06
2811.66:306:06
2911.66:306:06
3011.66:306:07
3111.66:306:07

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 4.72 kWh/m².

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 — January's 4.72 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.3Bright
24.3Bright
34.4Bright
44.4Bright
54.4Bright
64.4Bright
74.5Bright
84.5Bright
94.5Bright
104.5Bright
114.6Bright
124.6Bright
134.6Bright
144.7Bright
154.7Bright
164.7Bright
174.8Bright
184.8Bright
194.8Bright
204.9Bright
214.9Bright
224.9Bright
234.9Bright
245.0Bright
255.0Bright
265.0Bright
275.0Bright
285.0Bright
295.1Bright
305.1Bright
315.1Bright
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Trincomalee

In seasonPeak

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

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 January a good time to visit Trincomalee?

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

5.8
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
5.9
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

January is a reasonable time to visit Trincomalee for sightseeing.

What to pack for Trincomalee in January

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

In January, Trincomalee sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 15 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Trincomalee 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 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 January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 10 (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 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 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
January 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).