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Colombo in May: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Planning a trip and want to know what the weather in Colombo in May will be like? Take a look at our weather guide for Colombo, based on historical data.
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May

Weather in Colombo in May 2025

OK Weather
Warm
🌧️
Rainy
🌊
Very warm water
If you plan to visit Colombo in May, the weather is typically alright, with an average high temperature of +86°F during the day and approximately 0 sunny days. Expect some rainy, though, as there are typically 23 rainy days in the month and around 276 mm of precipitation. The weather is changeable so you may have to pack for every eventuality. Search flights in one click on Avionero.

Average weather

☀️
+86°F
Avg. max. temperature
+72°F
Min.
+97°F
Max.
276 mm
Total precipitation
84%
Avg. humidity
3 m/s
Avg. wind
0 ☀️
Sunny Days
1 ⛅️
Cloudy
23 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Colombo has OK weather in May.
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Average temperature in Colombo in May

Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Colombo for May based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

Going from a maximum of +90°F during the day to a minimum of +79°F during the night, the temperature in May averages around +88°F.

The average maximum temperature goes up 0% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +88°F to +88°F.

Is Colombo warm or cold in May?

Colombo is typically warm in May.

Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +88°F to +86°F. The minimum temperature also goes up from +77°F to +79°F.

It’s generally warm, but pack a long-sleeve shirt for evenings.

Take a look at how May is compared to other months in Colombo:

Water temperature in Colombo in May

Water in Colombo in May is Very warm. It varies from +83°F to +87°F, with an average of +85°F. This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +86°F.

The water temperature in May is one of the warmest of the entire year:

The warmest water temperatures in Colombo are reached in April, when the average sea temperature rises to +85°F. The coldest water temperatures are in August, with an average of +81°F.

Can you swim in Colombo in May?

You can definitely swim in Colombo in May, the water is very warm (+85°F in average), and might even be unpleasant for ones who like it more fresh.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄‍♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
Don't forget sunscreen and a hat, it's going to be hot!

Climate in Colombo in May

Colombo weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
AprilMayJune
Avg. temperature
+88°F+86°F+84°F
Min. temperature
+72°F+72°F+70°F
Max. temperature
+97°F+97°F+91°F
Rainfall
165 mm276 mm259 mm
Wind
2 m/s3 m/s4 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+85°F+85°F+83°F
Humidity
81%84%85%
Air pressure
1008 HPa1008 HPa1008 HPa
Sunny days
000
Cloudy days
010
Rainy days
192327
Snowy days
000

May weather is still as ok as in April. It’s getting colder in May. From +88°F in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +86°F. Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 165 mm to 276 mm. Humidity rises from 81% to 84%. Winds are stronger in comparison to April, going up from 2 m/s to 3 m/s on average. The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 0 sunny days during the month.

June brings much the same weather, it remains ok.

Wind

Wind speed in Colombo in May based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The average wind speed is 4 m/s getting up to 6 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.

The average wind speed in Colombo is gradually increasing during May, going from 3 m/s to 3 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during May in Colombo based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 97% chance of rain on an average day in May, with total rainfall of approximately 199 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 31 mm, which is moderate rain. May is a pretty wet month with over 30 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
May is one of the rainiest months in Colombo, here is a comparison with other months, total mm:
Colombo wettest month is October, where a typical day has a 77% chance of precipitation and 300 mm of rainfall per day. February, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 46% chance of precipitation and 54 mm of rainfall per day.

How was the weather last May in Colombo?

This is the weather in Colombo in May 2024:
1 May
🌧️
+87°F
2 May
🌧️
+85°F
3 May
🌧️
+84°F
4 May
🌧️
+88°F
5 May
🌧️
+84°F
6 May
🌧️
+88°F
7 May
🌧️
+88°F
8 May
🌧️
+88°F
9 May
🌧️
+87°F
10 May
🌧️
+86°F
11 May
🌧️
+87°F
12 May
🌧️
+87°F
13 May
☁️
+87°F
14 May
🌧️
+86°F
15 May
☁️
+88°F
16 May
☁️
+89°F
17 May
☁️
+89°F
18 May
☁️
+88°F
19 May
🌧️
+88°F
20 May
🌧️
+87°F
21 May
🌧️
+85°F
22 May
☁️
+87°F
23 May
☁️
+89°F
24 May
☀️
+88°F
25 May
☀️
+88°F
26 May
☀️
+88°F
27 May
🌧️
+88°F
28 May
🌧️
+89°F
29 May
🌧️
+90°F
30 May
☁️
+87°F
31 May
🌧️
+87°F
In May 2024 Colombo had 3 sunny days, 8 cloudy days, and 20 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +88°F, with an absolute maximum of +90°F and a minimum of +84°F. The average humidity was 85%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 74%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 8 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?

Climate Change Over the Years

This is how Colombo climate has changed over the last 43 years.

The climate in Colombo in May has not changed that much over the last 43 years.

The average temperature was the lowest in 2000 (+84°F) and the highest in 2020 (+89°F). The driest year was 1980 with only 1662 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2006 with 3008 mm.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Colombo in May:

Is May a good time to visit Colombo?

It’s always a good time to visit Colombo, but the weather is changeable in May, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.

Can you sunbathe in Colombo in May?

May is warm in Colombo. You may enjoy some beach or pool time in the day, but pack something a tad warmer for the evening.

Can you swim in Colombo in May?

Yes, you can swim in Colombo in May, the water is very warm, with temperature averaging at +85°F, but it's important to manage hydration and sun exposure.

Is Colombo rainy in May?

Colombo is often rainy in May. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.

Is it sunny in Colombo in May?

Usually, it’s not very sunny in Colombo in May, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.

Monthly weather in Colombo

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Colombo, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.

For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.