Kandy climate — normals and trends

Kandy (Sri Lanka) has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) under the Köppen-Geiger classification. Its mean annual temperature is 22.3 °C and it receives 1,622 mm of precipitation per year.

These figures are normals computed over 86 complete calendar years, from 1940 to 2025, using ERA5 reanalysis data from the Copernicus programme.

The warmest month is May (23.8 °C on average) and the coldest is January (20.4 °C). Rainfall peaks in November.

Kandy averages 0 frost days, 16 hot days (≥ 30 °C) and 224 rainy days per year.

Kandy has warmed by +1.3 °C between 1940 and 2025, or +0.16 °C per decade. This trend is statistically significant.

The hottest day of the period reached 35.2 °C (on 29 March 1953) and the coldest 11.4 °C (on 10 February 1967).

Data from ERA5 reanalysis (Copernicus Climate Change Service), redistributed under a CC-BY 4.0 licence. Normals are recomputed whenever the archive is updated.

Climate normals · ERA5

KandyCentral Province

coords
7.29°, 80.63°
period
19402025 · 86 yrs
AfTropical rainforestWarmest monthMayColdest monthJanuaryWettest monthNovemberDriest monthFebruary

Mean daily temperature

22.3°C

Average daily high

26.3°C

Average daily low

19.3°C

Annual rainfall

1,622mm

Sunshine / day

10.1h

Mean relative humidity

82%

Average peak wind

12.2km/h

Seasonal range

3.4°C

Frost days (< 0 °C)

0 d/yr

Hot days (≥ 30 °C)

16 d/yr

Rainy days (≥ 1 mm)

224 d/yr

Annual snowfall

0.0 cm

Average feels-like high

29.2 °C

Average feels-like low

21.5 °C

Average peak gust

39.5 km/h

Tropical nights (≥ 20 °C)

136 d/yr

Solar radiation

19.0 MJ/m²

Has the climate changed?

One stripe per year, 1940 to 2025

+1.3 °C

since 1940

+0.2 °C per decade · r² = 0.52 · p = < 0.001

1940Each stripe is one year, from 1940 (left) to 2025 (right). Blue = colder than the period average, red = warmer.2025

Trend fitted by linear regression (ordinary least squares) on annual means. A trend is shown only when it is statistically significant (p < 0.05).

A climograph overlays rainfall (bars) and temperature (line): the standard reading in climatology, where you can see at a glance whether the warm season is also the dry one.

Records for the period

Hottest day

35.2 °C

29 March 1953

Coldest day

11.4 °C

10 February 1967

Wettest day

237 mm

20 December 2014

Windiest day

30.3 km/h

3 November 1978

Strongest gust

102.2 km/h

24 November 1978

Hottest feels-like

38.3 °C

3 May 2024

Coldest feels-like

10.1 °C

29 January 1941

Sunniest day

12.4 h

7 June 1948

YearHottest dayColdest dayAnnual meanRainfallHot daysFrost days
202532.0 °C3 October 202515.9 °C4 February 202522.9 °C2,176 mm80
202433.7 °C6 May 202414.9 °C25 January 202423.4 °C2,053 mm380
202331.8 °C21 August 202314.4 °C1 January 202323.0 °C2,501 mm170
202229.2 °C4 May 202214.0 °C21 January 202222.5 °C1,864 mm00
202130.2 °C5 April 202115.3 °C11 February 202122.6 °C2,044 mm10
202031.1 °C29 March 202014.6 °C15 January 202023.0 °C1,529 mm80
201931.2 °C12 July 201914.6 °C19 January 201922.9 °C1,620 mm170
201830.0 °C5 April 201813.3 °C7 January 201822.4 °C2,047 mm20
201732.1 °C28 April 201713.2 °C8 January 201722.8 °C1,576 mm140
201632.7 °C25 April 201613.9 °C25 December 201623.2 °C1,241 mm320
201530.5 °C23 June 201513.1 °C18 February 201522.9 °C2,183 mm20
201431.2 °C15 April 201413.5 °C11 February 201422.6 °C2,356 mm180
201329.7 °C7 April 201314.9 °C17 January 201322.4 °C1,828 mm00
201231.9 °C5 October 201214.2 °C16 January 201222.9 °C1,712 mm130
201130.3 °C16 May 201113.2 °C28 December 201122.7 °C2,337 mm70
201031.3 °C22 March 201013.5 °C6 January 201022.7 °C2,197 mm50
200933.2 °C4 May 200913.2 °C9 February 200922.8 °C1,533 mm140
200830.1 °C30 September 200811.5 °C25 February 200822.6 °C1,878 mm10
200731.5 °C31 March 200713.5 °C5 January 200722.5 °C1,636 mm120
200631.4 °C7 August 200612.1 °C24 January 200622.6 °C1,772 mm30
200531.8 °C21 May 200514.4 °C18 February 200522.9 °C1,247 mm310
200431.4 °C22 March 200413.0 °C21 February 200422.6 °C1,496 mm110
200329.8 °C1 June 200314.7 °C2 January 200322.6 °C1,391 mm00
200231.1 °C24 September 200214.0 °C14 January 200222.5 °C1,657 mm40
200132.7 °C1 April 200111.7 °C11 February 200122.5 °C1,369 mm190
200029.7 °C22 May 200013.6 °C13 February 200022.0 °C1,577 mm00
199930.4 °C23 September 199913.0 °C30 January 199922.1 °C1,507 mm20
199834.5 °C24 April 199815.8 °C21 November 199823.2 °C1,368 mm440
199732.9 °C19 March 199712.5 °C28 January 199722.7 °C2,068 mm210
199633.1 °C28 March 199614.1 °C24 January 199622.3 °C1,783 mm170
199531.2 °C2 April 199513.8 °C13 February 199522.5 °C1,374 mm90
199430.1 °C26 March 199413.9 °C9 March 199422.3 °C2,035 mm10
199332.6 °C21 April 199312.3 °C9 February 199322.3 °C1,803 mm130
199234.3 °C13 April 199213.7 °C14 February 199222.4 °C1,374 mm410
199133.9 °C3 May 199112.4 °C19 February 199122.7 °C1,173 mm480
199033.0 °C28 April 199012.5 °C22 January 199022.6 °C1,509 mm150
198932.4 °C14 April 198912.3 °C12 February 198922.1 °C1,439 mm140
198831.9 °C31 March 198813.2 °C29 November 198822.6 °C1,410 mm100
198733.4 °C14 April 198714.6 °C11 February 198722.9 °C1,645 mm320
198630.4 °C29 May 198614.5 °C22 February 198622.6 °C1,245 mm70
198531.9 °C5 May 198514.2 °C22 February 198522.3 °C1,560 mm100
198430.3 °C16 May 198413.7 °C2 December 198422.1 °C2,002 mm20
198334.8 °C23 April 198312.1 °C4 January 198323.3 °C997 mm700
198233.7 °C10 April 198213.9 °C17 February 198222.7 °C1,227 mm480
198132.1 °C8 October 198113.4 °C8 December 198122.5 °C1,159 mm280
198032.0 °C20 September 198014.0 °C28 February 198022.7 °C1,160 mm300
197933.9 °C7 April 197915.1 °C12 January 197923.0 °C1,518 mm640
197831.3 °C20 April 197814.5 °C18 January 197822.2 °C1,743 mm80
197734.1 °C15 April 197713.2 °C30 January 197722.3 °C1,704 mm200
197634.2 °C26 March 197613.4 °C3 March 197622.4 °C1,457 mm670
197533.1 °C27 March 197512.1 °C9 January 197521.9 °C1,552 mm100
197433.6 °C2 May 197412.1 °C16 January 197422.1 °C1,052 mm240
197333.2 °C15 April 197314.3 °C17 January 197322.6 °C1,431 mm410
197233.6 °C26 March 197213.4 °C9 February 197222.4 °C1,386 mm220
197132.1 °C8 September 197113.4 °C1 February 197121.8 °C1,612 mm50
197029.5 °C1 April 197014.0 °C3 December 197022.1 °C1,648 mm00
196932.9 °C25 March 196914.3 °C13 February 196922.4 °C1,739 mm180
196828.7 °C23 May 196812.6 °C14 February 196821.7 °C1,682 mm00
196730.8 °C22 April 196711.4 °C10 February 196721.9 °C1,856 mm90
196631.0 °C27 March 196613.8 °C2 January 196622.2 °C1,538 mm80
196530.7 °C12 April 196515.2 °C10 January 196521.6 °C2,165 mm40
196429.7 °C15 May 196414.8 °C19 January 196421.8 °C1,592 mm00
196331.5 °C10 May 196313.7 °C17 February 196321.9 °C1,821 mm30
196229.0 °C25 September 196213.7 °C2 March 196221.7 °C1,748 mm00
196129.9 °C14 July 196113.6 °C27 February 196121.9 °C1,303 mm00
196028.2 °C10 October 196014.0 °C28 January 196021.6 °C1,681 mm00
195932.7 °C29 March 195914.9 °C25 February 195922.5 °C1,344 mm460
195828.9 °C2 March 195815.0 °C22 November 195822.0 °C1,550 mm00
195732.4 °C11 April 195713.6 °C10 February 195722.0 °C1,657 mm210
195630.4 °C4 April 195611.9 °C22 January 195621.3 °C1,443 mm40
195528.6 °C15 April 195513.9 °C19 December 195521.2 °C1,964 mm00
195428.1 °C23 February 195414.3 °C6 February 195421.4 °C2,099 mm00
195335.2 °C29 March 195314.9 °C30 January 195322.8 °C991 mm850
195234.0 °C30 April 195213.9 °C15 January 195222.8 °C798 mm700
195133.4 °C17 May 195115.1 °C5 January 195122.5 °C1,339 mm350
195031.4 °C5 March 195015.0 °C3 January 195022.6 °C765 mm310
194931.7 °C26 April 194914.7 °C24 January 194922.3 °C768 mm130
194829.1 °C31 May 194814.4 °C26 February 194821.7 °C1,914 mm00
194729.2 °C5 July 194714.9 °C13 February 194721.6 °C1,737 mm00
194629.6 °C28 April 194613.5 °C27 January 194621.6 °C1,764 mm00
194533.6 °C9 May 194512.4 °C4 January 194521.6 °C1,481 mm110
194428.4 °C30 April 194413.0 °C6 February 194421.4 °C2,010 mm00
194329.5 °C5 March 194313.4 °C20 January 194321.0 °C1,556 mm00
194227.4 °C21 April 194213.2 °C26 January 194221.0 °C1,932 mm00
194131.5 °C2 May 194111.6 °C29 January 194121.4 °C1,584 mm70
194028.4 °C8 March 194013.9 °C11 January 194021.3 °C1,902 mm00

Normals computed over complete calendar years 1940–2025.

A specific year

Pick a year and see how it compares to normal — warmer, drier or more extreme than usual?

Across the whole year

Average daily high
26.9 °C
+0.6 °C
Hot days (≥ 30 °C)
8 d/yr
-8
Frost days (< 0 °C)
0 d/yr
0
Annual rainfall
2176 mm
+554 mm

Month by month

Highvs. normalPrecipitationvs. normal
Jan23.9 °C0.0 °C343 mm+235 mm
Feb26.7 °C+1.3 °C40 mm-35 mm
Mar27.5 °C-0.1 °C99 mm+3 mm
Apr28.2 °C-0.1 °C239 mm+80 mm
May27.8 °C0.0 °C104 mm-18 mm
Jun27.5 °C+0.7 °C68 mm-10 mm
Jul27.3 °C+0.8 °C103 mm+13 mm
Aug27.7 °C+1.1 °C44 mm-47 mm
Sep28.2 °C+1.2 °C82 mm-28 mm
Oct27.6 °C+1.3 °C273 mm+36 mm
Nov25.3 °C+0.2 °C673 mm+409 mm
Dec24.9 °C+0.9 °C109 mm-84 mm

The year's extremes

Hottest day
32.0 °C
3 Oct 2025
Coldest day
15.9 °C
4 Feb 2025
Wettest day
217.6 mm
27 Nov 2025
Windiest day
26.3 km/h
30 May 2025
Strongest gust
91.4 km/h
29 May 2025
Hottest feels-like
36.2 °C
5 May 2025
Coldest feels-like
16.3 °C
7 Mar 2025
Sunniest day
12.3 h
7 Jun 2025

What was the weather like that day?

Your birthday, a wedding, a memorable trip: discover the actual weather for any date since 1940.

Date

Frequently asked questions

What is the climate of Kandy?

Kandy has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af). Over 1940-2025, the average annual temperature is 22.3 °C and it receives 1,622 mm of precipitation per year.

What is the hottest day ever recorded in Kandy?

The hottest day measured in Kandy between 1940 and 2025 was 29 March 1953, reaching 35.2 °C.

What is the coldest day in Kandy?

The coldest day measured in Kandy between 1940 and 2025 was 10 February 1967, at 11.4 °C.

Does it snow in Kandy?

Almost never: Kandy sees virtually no snow, with about 0 frost days per year.

Has the climate of Kandy warmed?

Yes: Kandy warmed by +1.3 °C between 1940 and 2025, a statistically significant trend.

What is the wettest day in Kandy?

The wettest day measured in Kandy between 1940 and 2025 was 20 December 2014, with 237 mm of rain in 24 hours.

What was the windiest day in Kandy?

The windiest day measured in Kandy between 1940 and 2025 was 3 November 1978, with winds reaching 30.3 km/h.

What is the warmest month in Kandy?

The warmest month in Kandy is May (23.8 °C on average); the coldest is January (20.4 °C).

How much does it rain in Kandy?

Kandy receives on average 1,622 mm of precipitation per year, spread over about 224 rainy days.

Is it sunny in Kandy?

Kandy gets on average 10.1 hours of sunshine per day, roughly 3,687 hours per year over 1940-2025.

Are there tropical nights in Kandy?

Yes: Kandy has on average 136 tropical nights per year (temperature staying above 20 °C), over 1940-2025.

What was the most extreme apparent temperature in Kandy?

In Kandy, between 1940 and 2025, the highest apparent temperature reached 38.3 °C on 3 May 2024, and the lowest was 10.1 °C on 29 January 1941.

Compare Kandy with another city

Pick a second city: its normals will be set against these, indicator by indicator.

Nearby cities

The climate around Kandy

Other cities — Sri Lanka