Vavuniya weather in December

In December, Vavuniya sees average daytime highs of 29°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 163 mm of rain across 18.3 wet days and about 11.5 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 29°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 11% 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 Vavuniya's 7th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Vavuniya's year-round climate.

Daytime high
29°
12th warmest
Overnight low
23°
3rd coldest
Rainfall
163 mm
18.3 wet days
Daylight
11 h 30 min
6:19 AM – 5:49 PM
Cloud cover
74%
7th clearest
Wind
10 km/h
8th windiest
Solar energy
3.84 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.5
out of 10

Vavuniya is human settlement.

Density
2,674/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 29°C through the month.

A typical December day in Vavuniya reaches about 29°C in the afternoon and slips back to 23°C overnight — a 6°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 27°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 1°C cooler than November and on par with January.

20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12923
22923
32923
42923
52923
62923
72923
82923
92923
102923
112923
122923
132923
142923
152923
162923
172823
182823
192823
202823
212822
222822
232822
242822
252822
262822
272822
282822
292822
302822
312822

How December really feels in Vavuniya

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 6 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
6
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in December is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Vavuniya weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 12th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 22°6910.211.55.4
Feb31° / 22°457.511.75.0
Mar33° / 23°447.311.93.6
Apr34° / 25°10215.212.22.6
May34° / 26°7512.412.42.8
Jun34° / 26°297.212.53.0
Jul34° / 26°458.612.52.9
Aug34° / 26°5810.312.32.9
Sep34° / 25°7211.612.12.9
Oct32° / 24°18920.211.83.0
Nov30° / 23°23422.911.63.5
Dec29° / 23°16318.311.54.5

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 11% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 70%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12575
22575
32575
42575
52575
62674
72674
82575
92575
102674
112674
122674
132674
142773
152773
162773
172872
182971
193070
203070
213169
223268
233367
243466
253664
263664
273763
283862
293862
303862
313961

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Vavuniya gets around 163 mm of rain over 18.3 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 59% and peaks near 67% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
167
265
364
464
563
663
762
862
962
1062
1162
1263
1363
1463
1562
1662
1762
1861
1961
2060
2159
2258
2356
2455
2553
2652
2750
2849
2948
3047
3147

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 69% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 98% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
11127314
21147114
31157014
41167013
51167013
61176913
71186912
81186912
91187011
101196911
111197010
121197010
13119719
14119719
15120718
16120718
17120727
18221716
19221716
20222715
21223705
22224695
23225694
24226684
25227674
26228664
27229663
28230653
29230653
30231643
31231643

Wind in December

Winds average 10 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 9 km/h on the calmest days to 10 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
19calm
29calm
39calm
49calm
59calm
610calm
710calm
810calm
910calm
1010calm
1110calm
1210calm
1310calm
1410calm
1510calm
1610calm
1710calm
1810calm
1910calm
2010calm
2110calm
2210calm
2310calm
2410calm
2510calm
2610calm
2710calm
2810calm
2910calm
3010calm
3110calm

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 6:12 AM to 6:26 AM, and sunset from 5:44 PM to 5:56 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.56:125:44
211.56:125:44
311.56:135:44
411.56:135:44
511.56:145:45
611.56:145:45
711.56:155:45
811.56:155:46
911.56:165:46
1011.56:165:47
1111.56:175:47
1211.56:175:47
1311.56:185:48
1411.56:185:48
1511.56:195:49
1611.56:195:49
1711.56:205:49
1811.56:205:50
1911.56:215:50
2011.56:215:51
2111.56:225:51
2211.56:225:52
2311.56:235:52
2411.56:235:53
2511.56:245:53
2611.56:245:54
2711.56:255:54
2811.56:255:55
2911.56:255:55
3011.56:265:56
3111.56:265:56

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 3.84 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.84 kWh/m² to a high of 6.24 kWh/m² in March across the year — December's 3.84 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.8Moderate
23.8Moderate
33.8Moderate
43.9Moderate
53.9Moderate
63.9Moderate
73.9Moderate
83.8Moderate
93.8Moderate
103.8Moderate
113.8Moderate
123.8Moderate
133.8Moderate
143.8Moderate
153.8Moderate
163.8Moderate
173.8Moderate
183.8Moderate
193.8Moderate
203.8Moderate
213.8Moderate
223.8Moderate
233.8Moderate
243.9Moderate
253.9Moderate
263.9Moderate
273.9Moderate
284.0Moderate
294.0Moderate
304.0Moderate
314.0Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Vavuniya

In seasonPeak

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

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

Vavuniya's rainy season runs October–December, when most of the year's rain falls.

Cyclone
Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Vavuniya?

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

4.5
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
5.5
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Vavuniya for sightseeing.

What to pack for Vavuniya in December

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

In December, Vavuniya sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. About 18 days see rain.

light clothesrain gear

Sea temperature near Vavuniya in December

The nearest coast averages about 27°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 58 km away) is warmest in April at about 31°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
Apr31Tropical
May30Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug28Tropical
Sep28Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec27Warm

UV index in Vavuniya 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 Vavuniya peaks around May 10 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 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 22UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan9Very high
Feb12Extreme
Mar12Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May14Extreme
Jun11Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec9Very high

Air quality in Vavuniya 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 Vavuniya 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 1323 µg/m³Sep 1516 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan20Moderate
Feb19Moderate
Mar21Moderate
Apr22Moderate
May24Moderate
Jun18Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep16Moderate
Oct18Moderate
Nov18Moderate
Dec19Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Vavuniya?

Vavuniya sits at 8.8°N, 80.5°E, 104 m above sea level, in Sri Lanka. The nearest listed city is Anuradhapura, 50 km away.

AnuradhapuraMullaittivuMannarTrincomaleeSigiriyaDambullaPolonnaruwaPuttalam

Topography around Vavuniya

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Vavuniya has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 29 m around an average of 96 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 169 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 732 m.

The land around Vavuniya is covered by trees (58%) within 3 km, trees (64%) within 16 km, and trees (61%) within 80 km.

3 km
29 m
16 km
169 m
80 km
732 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
December weather nearby: Anuradhapura 50 km · Mullaittivu 67 km · Mannar 73 km · Trincomalee 83 km · Sigiriya 93 km · Dambulla 101 km · Polonnaruwa 106 km · Puttalam 108 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 Vavuniya (8.7514°, 80.4971°, elevation 104 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).