Quick answer
March is hot and mostly dry across Sri Lanka, with calm seas on both the southwest and the east coasts for much of the month. Colombo averages roughly 100 to 130 mm of rain, mostly in late-afternoon storms that become more frequent towards the end of the month. The Cultural Triangle reaches about 33 °C by early afternoon, the hills are clear in the mornings with afternoon cloud, and the east coast beach season begins.
Key takeaways
- March is the month when both coasts are most likely to be calm at the same time.
- Heat and humidity rise steadily, with Cultural Triangle highs around 33 °C by the end of the month.
- The first inter-monsoon brings afternoon and evening thunderstorms, mostly in the southwest and the hills.
- The east coast beach season opens, with the sea at Trincomalee and Pasikudah usually settled by mid-March.
- Mornings are the best part of the day everywhere, before heat and cloud build.
March at a glance
In March the northeast wind dies away and the island enters the first inter-monsoon, a period of light and variable winds that lasts until the southwest monsoon arrives in late May. Without a steady wind, heat builds over the land through the day and is released as thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening, mostly over the hills and the southwest.
The early part of the month is often as dry as February. The storms become more frequent from about the third week, and by April they are a daily feature in some places. A typical March day starts clear, turns hot and humid by noon, clouds over in the afternoon and may end with a short, heavy downpour.
For a beach trip, March has an unusual advantage. The southwest coast is still calm and the east coast has settled, so a trip can combine Mirissa and Trincomalee without either being rough.
- →West and south coasts: hot, mostly dry, calm sea, late-month storms.
- →Hill country: clear mornings, afternoon cloud and showers.
- →Cultural Triangle: hot and dry, highs around 33 °C.
- →East coast and north: dry, sea settling, season opening.
The west and south coasts
Colombo averages roughly 100 to 130 mm of rain in March, more than in February but still a fraction of the May total. Most of it falls in short evening storms. Days are sunny and hot, around 31 to 32 °C, and humidity climbs, so the afternoon feels heavier than the same temperature in January.
The sea on the south coast remains calm and warm, roughly 28 °C, and whale-watching from Mirissa continues. Surf at the south coast breaks is smaller and cleaner as the season winds down. Late in the month, a thunderstorm can roll in from the sea in the evening, with lightning and heavy rain for an hour or so.
The safest pattern on the coast in March is to swim and walk in the morning, rest in the shade in the early afternoon and plan dinners under cover.
The hill country
The first inter-monsoon storms form first over the hills, so March in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ella often follows a clear-morning, wet-afternoon pattern. Rainfall rises from the February low, to roughly 80 to 120 mm in Nuwara Eliya in an average March, but it is concentrated in the afternoons.
Temperatures are pleasant. Kandy reaches about 30 °C, Ella about 27 °C and Nuwara Eliya about 21 °C by day, with nights around 11 to 12 °C in Nuwara Eliya. Early starts pay off: Horton Plains and Ella Rock are best walked before noon.
The Adam's Peak pilgrimage season continues through March, and the clear pre-dawn sky on most nights gives a good chance of a sunrise from the summit.
- →Kandy: about 30 °C, afternoon showers possible.
- →Ella: about 27 °C, clear mornings.
- →Nuwara Eliya: about 21 °C by day, 11 to 12 °C at night.
The Cultural Triangle
The dry zone heats up through March. Highs around Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa reach about 33 °C by the end of the month, and rain is light. The landscape is drier and more open after the harvest, and the tanks start to fall.
Climbs need an early start. The sun is strong on the rock faces from about 9 am, and the middle of the day is uncomfortable for long walks around Polonnaruwa or Anuradhapura. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible in the last week but are less frequent here than in the hills.
- →Highs around 32 to 33 °C, light rain.
- →Best climbing window before about 9 am.
- →Late-afternoon light good for the ruins.
The east coast and the north
The east coast season opens in March. Rain at Trincomalee falls to roughly 30 to 60 mm in an average March, the northeast swell fades, and the sea at Nilaveli, Uppuveli and Pasikudah usually settles by the middle of the month. Snorkelling at Pigeon Island becomes reliable as the water clears.
Arugam Bay is warming up for its surf season, which starts in April or May. The north is hot and dry, with Jaffna reaching about 32 °C, and the lagoons are calm. March is one of the better months for a trip that combines the north and the east coast.
Planning around March weather
March suits a two-coast route better than any other month. A trip can start in the Cultural Triangle, cross to Trincomalee for calm swimming, then return through the hills to the south coast while it is still in season.
Heat is the main planning factor. Schedule climbs, walks and safaris for early morning, keep the middle of the day for travel, and expect an evening storm on some days. Lankan Stays & Trails builds March routes around early starts and adds the east coast when a trip has the time.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Sri Lanka in March?
March is hot and mostly dry across Sri Lanka, with calm seas on both the southwest and east coasts. Afternoon and evening thunderstorms start to appear, mostly over the hills and the southwest, and become more frequent towards the end of the month. Highs reach about 31 to 33 °C in the lowlands.
Are both coasts of Sri Lanka good in March?
Often, yes. In March the southwest coast is still calm and the east coast sea has usually settled, so both can be swimmable at the same time. That makes March one of the best months for a route that includes both Mirissa or Galle and Trincomalee or Pasikudah.
Does it rain in Sri Lanka in March?
Some rain falls, mostly as short afternoon or evening thunderstorms, especially in the hills and on the southwest coast late in the month. Colombo averages roughly 100 to 130 mm in March. Mornings are usually clear, so most sightseeing is not affected.
How hot is Sri Lanka in March?
Lowland highs are about 31 to 33 °C in March, rising towards the April peak, and humidity increases through the month. The hills are cooler, with about 27 °C in Ella and 21 °C in Nuwara Eliya. Plan long walks and climbs for early morning and rest in the early afternoon.
Is March good for the east coast of Sri Lanka?
Yes, from about mid-March. Rain at Trincomalee drops to roughly 30 to 60 mm in an average March and the northeast swell fades, so the sea at Nilaveli, Uppuveli and Pasikudah usually becomes calm and clear. Snorkelling at Pigeon Island becomes more reliable as the month goes on.
What is the sea temperature in Sri Lanka in March?
The sea is roughly 28 °C around the island in March and keeps warming towards April and May. Both coasts are generally calm for much of the month. Late-month thunderstorms can make the sea choppy for a few hours, but they rarely change conditions for more than a day.
How does Lankan Stays & Trails use March weather in its routes?
March is one of the few months when a route can include both coasts in good conditions, so routes often combine the Cultural Triangle, Trincomalee, the hills and the south coast. Climbs and walks are scheduled for early mornings to avoid the heat and the afternoon storms.