AI-generatedJaffna at a glance
- Best time
- Jan – Mar
- Warmest month
- Apr · 31°
- Warmest sea
- Apr · 30.2°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,450 h
- Rain a year
- 1,222 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC+5:30
- Elevation
- 7 m
Climate in Jaffna
Jaffna has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. April is the warmest month with average highs of 31 °C, while January is the coolest at 27 °C. With around 2,450 hours of sunshine a year, Jaffna is sunny; March is the sunniest month with 8.3 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: January – March
October is in the cyclone season
Keep in mindFrequent rainStorm season
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 27°
- Midday, 13:00: about 29°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 29°
- Evening, 20:00: about 27°
- Night, 23:00: about 27°
05:5817:53
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:45–06:26 · evening 17:25–18:06
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:37–05:45 · evening 18:06–18:15
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Jaffna in October?
In October, Jaffna is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 29.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 21 days, totalling 224 mm. On about 7 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Jaffna.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 56 min05:58 – 17:53
- UV index
- 12 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 23 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 73 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 7 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+5:30Asia/Colombo
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %74 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %43 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Jaffna
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 28.6 – 29.4 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Jaffna ranges from 26.7 °C in January to 30.2 °C in April. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
From November to December the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in April, eight out of ten years were between 29.8 and 30.7 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 26.7° | 26.1° | 27.5° | warm |
| FebruaryFeb | 27.4° | 26.8° | 28.1° | warm |
| MarchMar | 29.0° | 28.5° | 29.5° | very warm |
| AprilApr | 30.2° | 29.8° | 30.7° | very warm |
| MayMay | 29.8° | 29.1° | 30.5° | very warm |
| JuneJun | 29.2° | 28.7° | 29.7° | very warm |
| JulyJul | 29.0° | 28.4° | 29.4° | very warm |
| AugustAug | 28.7° | 28.3° | 29.3° | warm |
| SeptemberSep | 28.7° | 28.3° | 29.1° | warm |
| OctoberOct | 29.0° | 28.6° | 29.4° | very warm |
| NovemberNov | 28.5° | 28.1° | 29.1° | warm |
| DecemberDec | 27.2° | 26.7° | 27.9° | warm |
Sunshine hours in Jaffna
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 5.6 of 11.9 hours of daylight in Jaffna, 47 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Jaffna
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 12 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in April (UV 13).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 15 min
- Light brown skin
- about 20 min
- Olive skin
- about 25 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Jaffna: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Jaffna has about 21 rainy days with 224 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Jaffna
How breezy and how cloudy Jaffna is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Jaffna typically peaks at 23 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting, and here it gets there all year.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 73 % of the sky over Jaffna: mostly cloudy, with about 5.6 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Jaffna
How often the day gets hot in Jaffna (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Jaffna has about 7 hot days, with an average daytime high of 29 °C: often muggy. The air feels warmer than the thermometer says: light, airy clothes and slow days help.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Jaffna
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
HotOctober: nights around 26°. Hot nights: air conditioning makes sleeping much easier. Muggy on about 31 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (25°), the warmest in May (28°). Nights stay tropical all year (20 °C and more), so a room with air conditioning or at least a fan pays off. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 362 days a year, mostly all year round.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 84 | 27° | 25° | 26.7° | 6.6 h | 8 | 73 |
| FebruaryFeb | 88 | 28° | 25° | 27.4° | 7.7 h | 5 | 32 |
| MarchMar | 78 | 30° | 26° | 29.0° | 8.3 h | 4 | 24 |
| AprilApr | 61 | 31° | 27° | 30.2° | 8.0 h | 8 | 53 |
| MayMay | 61 | 31° | 28° | 29.8° | 7.9 h | 8 | 67 |
| JuneJun | 66 | 31° | 28° | 29.2° | 7.2 h | 7 | 29 |
| JulyJul | 58 | 31° | 28° | 29.0° | 6.4 h | 9 | 36 |
| AugustAug | 56 | 30° | 27° | 28.7° | 6.5 h | 11 | 54 |
| SeptemberSep | 53 | 30° | 27° | 28.7° | 6.6 h | 13 | 72 |
| OctoberOct | 46 | 29° | 26° | 29.0° | 5.6 h | 21 | 224 |
| NovemberNov | 51 | 28° | 25° | 28.5° | 4.5 h | 22 | 354 |
| DecemberDec | 59 | 27° | 25° | 27.2° | 5.2 h | 17 | 204 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
9.67° N, 80.01° E · 7 m · Asia/Colombo
Best time to visit Jaffna
The best time to visit Jaffna is from January to March. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from January to August. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable in January. Rain is most frequent from September to December; the wettest month is November with 354 mm.
Jaffna through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Jaffna in the dry season
Jan – Aug
Good
- 27–31 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 60 rainy days in all
Jaffna in the rainy season
Sep – Dec
Fair
- 27–30 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 73 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Jaffna for you.
Your best months: January – February
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Jaffna
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
February has the better holiday weather in Jaffna: score 88 against 46. In February, days are 1 °C cooler than in October. The sea is 2 °C cooler in February. February has 16 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 2 hours longer a day in February.
| Month | October | February |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 46 | 88better |
| Day high | 29° | 28° |
| Night low | 26° | 25° |
| Sea | 29.0° | 27.4° |
| Sunshine | 5.6 h | 7.7 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 21 | 5better |
| Rainfall | 224 mm | 32 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 31 | 27better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Jan – Aug
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Jan
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Sep – Dec
12 or more rainy days
Jaffna month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
84January27° · Sea 27° · 7 h
In January, Jaffna is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 26.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 73 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Jaffna.
Jaffna in January88February28° · Sea 27° · 8 h
In February, Jaffna is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 27.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 32 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Jaffna.
Jaffna in February78March30° · Sea 29° · 8 h
In March, Jaffna is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 29.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 24 mm in total. On about 18 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Jaffna.
Jaffna in March61April31° · Sea 30° · 8 h
In April, Jaffna is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 27 °C. The sea averages 30.2 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 53 mm. On about 26 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Jaffna.
Jaffna in April61May31° · Sea 30° · 8 h
In May, Jaffna is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 28 °C. The sea averages 29.8 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 67 mm. On about 28 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 32 km/h. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Jaffna.
Jaffna in May66June31° · Sea 29° · 7 h
In June, Jaffna is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 28 °C. The sea averages 29.2 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 29 mm. On about 25 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 35 km/h. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Jaffna.
Jaffna in June58July31° · Sea 29° · 6 h
In July, Jaffna is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 28 °C. The sea averages 29.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 36 mm in total. On about 22 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 32 km/h. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Jaffna.
Jaffna in July56August30° · Sea 29° · 7 h
In August, Jaffna is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 27 °C. The sea averages 28.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 54 mm in total. On about 19 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 31 km/h. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Jaffna.
Jaffna in August53September30° · Sea 29° · 7 h
In September, Jaffna is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 27 °C. The sea averages 28.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 72 mm in total. On about 16 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 31 km/h. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Jaffna.
Jaffna in September46October29° · Sea 29° · 6 h
In October, Jaffna is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 29.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 21 days, totalling 224 mm. On about 7 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Jaffna.
Jaffna in October51November28° · Sea 29° · 5 h
In November, Jaffna is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.5 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 22 days, totalling 354 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is a so-so month for a holiday in Jaffna.
Jaffna in November59December27° · Sea 27° · 5 h
In December, Jaffna is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 27.2 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 17 days, totalling 204 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is a so-so month for a holiday in Jaffna.
Jaffna in DecemberJaffna compared
Put Jaffna side by side with another destination.
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Jaffna vs. Rameswaram
In October Rameswaram has the better holiday weather (score 54 vs. 46). During the day Rameswaram is 1 °C cooler than Jaffna. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Jaffna | Rameswaram |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 46 | 54 |
| Daytime high | 29° | 28° |
| Sea | 29° | 29° |
| Sunshine | 6 h | 6 h |
| Rainy days | 21 | 18 |
| Best time | Jan – Mar | Jan – Sep |
Through the year
Sri Lanka in October: the best places
In October, Jaffna ranks 6 of 8 destinations in this country.
- Galle28°28°69
- 2Negombo29°28°66
- 3Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte29°28°65
- 4Bentota28°28°65
- 5Kandy27°56
- 6JaffnaThis page29°29°46
- 7Colombo29°28°44
- 8Sigiriya30°35
Planning a trip to Jaffna
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Jaffna in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Jaffna has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 72) and its weakest during October half-term (score 46).
- 66
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 31 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 8.1 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming
Keep in mind: Storm season
- 62
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 31 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 7.8 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming
Keep in mind: Storm season
- 57
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 30 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 6.5 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming
- 46
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 5.6 h of sun a day
- 21 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 72
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
GoodBest holidays
- 27 °C by day
- Sea 27 °C
- 5.9 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 10 h 45 min
- Distance
- 8,510 km
- Time zone
- UTC+5:30
- Jet lag
- About 5 days (5 h east)
Rule of thumb for flying east: for a few days before, go to bed and get up a little earlier, and get plenty of morning light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Storm season
Jaffna lies in an area that cyclones from the northern Indian Ocean can reach. The cyclone season runs from April to June and from October to December, with most storms in May and in November. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
- January
- February
- March
- April: Season
- May: Peak
- June: Season
- July
- August
- September
- October: Season
- November: Peak
- December: Season
Official season dates of the regional warning centres (NOAA, JMA, IMD, Météo-France, BoM); not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions about Jaffna
When is the best time to visit Jaffna?
The best time to visit Jaffna is from January to March. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Jaffna?
The sea temperature in Jaffna ranges from 26.7 °C in January to 30.2 °C in April. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Jaffna in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 29.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath.
What is the warmest month in Jaffna?
April is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C and nights around 27 °C. January is the coolest month at 27 °C.
When does it rain most in Jaffna?
Rain is most frequent from September to December; the wettest month is November with 354 mm. The driest month is March with 24 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Jaffna get?
Jaffna gets around 2,450 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is March with 8.3 hours a day; in November there are 4.5 hours a day.
What time zone is Jaffna in?
Jaffna uses the time zone Asia/Colombo, at UTC+5:30 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Jaffna?
A nonstop flight from London to Jaffna takes about 10 h 45 min, for a straight-line distance of about 8,510 km.
When is cyclone season in Jaffna?
Jaffna lies in an area that cyclones from the northern Indian Ocean can reach. The cyclone season runs from April to June and from October to December, with most storms in May and in November. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
Which school holidays are best for Jaffna?
Jaffna has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 72) and its weakest during October half-term (score 46). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 66, May half-term 62, Summer holidays 57, October half-term 46, Christmas holidays 72.
Near Jaffna
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Jaffna
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Jaffna's – good alternatives.