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Weather & Climate in Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Jaffna has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 83°F (28°C). Winters average 78°F in January while summers reach 85°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 248 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 50.9 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 23 feet.
Temperature
78°F Jan (26°C)
85°F Jul (29°C)
| Annual Average | 82.6°F |
| 53% above US avg | |
| January Average | 78°F (26°C) |
| July Average | 85°F (29°C) |
| Sunny Days | 248 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 23 ft (7 m) |
| Area | 7.8 sq mi (20.2 km²) |
| Population Density | 21,680/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 9.6685°N, 80.0074°W |
| Timezone | Asia/Colombo |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Hurricane History
10 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 3.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2020 | Nivar | Category 1 | 75 mph | 217 km |
| 2018 | Gaja | Category 1 | 81 mph | 98 km |
| 2011 | Thane | Category 2 | 86 mph | 226 km |
| 2000 | Unnamed | Category 1 | 117 mph | 211 km |
| 2000 | Unnamed | Category 1 | 104 mph | 170 km |
| 1993 | Unnamed | Category 1 | 104 mph | 132 km |
| 1992 | Unnamed | Category 1 | 63 mph | 272 km |
| 1990 | Unnamed | Category 3 | 132 mph | 275 km |
| 1984 | Unnamed | Category 1 | 63 mph | 197 km |
| 1984 | Unnamed | Category 1 | 132 mph | 147 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980-2026).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 78°F (26°C) | 3.6 in | Coldest |
| February | 80°F (26°C) | 1.1 in | |
| March | 82°F (28°C) | 1.1 in | |
| April | 85°F (30°C) | 2.5 in | |
| May | 87°F (30°C) | 2.2 in | Warmest |
| June | 86°F (30°C) | 0.4 in | Driest |
| July | 85°F (29°C) | 0.9 in | |
| August | 84°F (29°C) | 1.7 in | |
| September | 84°F (29°C) | 2.2 in | |
| October | 82°F (28°C) | 8.9 in | |
| November | 80°F (27°C) | 15.1 in | Wettest |
| December | 78°F (26°C) | 11.0 in |
Jaffna has a seasonal temperature swing of 9°F / from 78°F in January to 87°F in May. Total annual precipitation is 50.9 inches, with November being the wettest month (15.1") and June the driest (0.4").