Quick answer
August is often the lightest month of the southwest monsoon. Colombo averages roughly 100 to 130 mm of rain, mostly in short showers, though the sea on the west and south coasts remains rough. The east coast and the north are dry, hot and calm, with Trincomalee averaging roughly 80 to 110 mm as the first inland storms appear late in the month. The Cultural Triangle is dry and windy, with highs around 33 °C.
Key takeaways
- August rain on the west and south coasts is usually the lightest of the southwest monsoon months.
- The southwest sea stays rough and unsuitable for swimming on most beaches.
- The east coast remains dry and calm, though evening storms inland become more likely late in the month.
- The Cultural Triangle is dry and windy, and the Minneriya elephant gathering is at its peak.
- Kandy's Esala Perahera usually falls in late July or August, in warm weather with occasional showers.
August at a glance
August is the tail of the southwest monsoon's main phase. The wind still blows from the southwest, but it is less moist, and many days on the west and south coasts are sunny with only a passing shower. The hills on the western side are still wet but less so than in June.
The rest of the island remains dry. The east coast, the north and the Cultural Triangle have hot, windy, rainless days for most of the month, though late August can bring the first afternoon storms inland, a sign of the change that comes in September and October.
Temperatures are steady: about 29 to 30 °C on the southwest coast, about 33 °C in the dry zone and on the east coast, and about 19 °C by day in Nuwara Eliya.
- →West and south coasts: light showers, sunny spells, rough sea.
- →Hill country: wet west, dry and bright Ella side.
- →Cultural Triangle: dry, windy, Gathering at its peak.
- →East coast and north: dry and calm, some late storms.
The west and south coasts
Colombo averages roughly 100 to 130 mm of rain in August, one of its lower monsoon months. Galle, Bentota and Mirissa are similar. Many days are bright with a breeze, and the showers that do come are often short. That makes August a good month for Galle Fort and the south coast's towns.
The sea is still rough, though. The southwest swell continues through August, and red flags are common on open beaches. Some sheltered spots have calmer days, and surf schools at Weligama sometimes find small, sheltered waves, but swimming should be judged daily.
The southwest coast in August is good value. Many hotels offer low-season rates, and the towns are quieter than in the winter peak.
The hill country
The western hills still catch southwest showers in August, but less than in June and July. Nuwara Eliya averages roughly 120 to 160 mm, and the wind is easing. Mist is still common in the afternoons. Daytime highs are about 19 °C and nights about 13 °C.
Kandy is warm, around 29 °C, with occasional showers. The Esala Perahera, the city's great procession, usually falls in late July or August, and its night parades are rarely rained off, though a light shower is possible.
Ella and Haputale are often dry and sunny, and August is a good month for walking there. The view from Lipton's Seat is clearest early in the morning.
- →Nuwara Eliya: roughly 120 to 160 mm, mist in afternoons.
- →Kandy: about 29 °C, Perahera nights usually dry.
- →Ella and Haputale: mostly dry, good walking.
The Cultural Triangle
The dry zone is at its driest in August, with very little rain and strong wind. Highs at Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa are about 33 °C, and the landscape is dusty and golden. The tanks are low.
That is the reason the Minneriya and Kaudulla elephant gathering peaks around August, when hundreds of elephants come to the grass on the drying tank beds. Afternoon safaris there are hot but usually dry. Late in the month, an evening storm is possible.
- →Highs about 33 °C, dry and dusty.
- →Elephant gathering at its peak.
- →Occasional late-month evening storms.
The east coast and the north
The east coast is still in season in August. Trincomalee averages roughly 80 to 110 mm of rain, more than in July, mostly from a few evening thunderstorms late in the month. The sea at Nilaveli, Uppuveli and Pasikudah stays calm and clear, and Arugam Bay's surf is consistent.
The north is hot and windy, with Jaffna around 33 to 34 °C. Kalpitiya's kite wind is still strong. Whale-watching boats from Trincomalee run in some years.
- →Trincomalee: roughly 80 to 110 mm, calm sea.
- →Arugam Bay: consistent surf.
- →Jaffna: hot, dry and windy.
Planning around August weather
August follows the July pattern: sightseeing through the Cultural Triangle, Kandy and the hills, and beach time on the east coast. The southwest can be added for Galle and the south coast towns, with the understanding that the sea is for looking at rather than swimming.
August is the busiest month on the east coast and in Kandy during the Perahera, so book early. Lankan Stays & Trails plans August trips around the Perahera dates and the east coast, with the Minneriya Gathering added for wildlife lovers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Sri Lanka in August?
August is often the gentlest month of the southwest monsoon. The west and south coasts have light showers and sunny spells but a rough sea, and the western hills are still misty. The east coast, the north and the Cultural Triangle are dry, hot and windy, with calm seas in the east.
Is August a good time for the east coast of Sri Lanka?
Yes. The east coast is still in season in August, with calm, clear seas at Nilaveli, Uppuveli and Pasikudah and consistent surf at Arugam Bay. Trincomalee averages roughly 80 to 110 mm of rain, mostly from a few evening storms late in the month.
How much does it rain in Colombo in August?
Colombo averages roughly 100 to 130 mm of rain in August, one of the lighter months of the southwest monsoon. Showers are usually short, with long sunny spells between them. The sea, however, remains rough on most beaches on the west and south coasts.
Does it rain during the Kandy Esala Perahera?
The Perahera usually falls in late July or August, when Kandy is warm, around 29 °C, with occasional showers. Most procession nights are dry, but a light shower is possible, so a small umbrella or rain jacket is useful for long evenings in the stands.
Can you swim on the south coast of Sri Lanka in August?
Generally not on open beaches. The southwest swell continues in August, with strong currents and red flags on many beaches. Some sheltered bays have calmer days, and conditions should be judged daily with local advice. The east coast is the safer choice for swimming in August.
Is August a good month for the Minneriya elephant gathering?
Yes. The gathering usually peaks around August and September, when the tanks are low and elephants come to the grass on the tank beds. The dry zone is hot and dry in August, so afternoon safaris are dusty but rarely rained off.
How does Lankan Stays & Trails plan August trips?
August trips usually include the Cultural Triangle with a Minneriya safari, Kandy around the Perahera, the hills around Ella and the east coast for beach time. Hotels and Perahera seats are booked early because August is a peak month for families.