Weather / Ocean conditions
About the seasons (dry and monsoon), the island is divided
by two parts, the South-West (included the mountains) and the North-East. These
two parts get opposite season. While one side has monsoon, the other side has a
dry season. The dry season is from December to April for the
South-West and April to September for the North-East. During the dry season,
the weather should be nice and the ocean should be quiet. The monsoon, is from
May to November for the South-West and October to February for the North-East. During
the monsoon, the weather is more or less rainy but still sunny and the ocean is
wavy to very rough. The weather has changed a lot. We can explain only the
weather in Tangalle as it is a micro climate. Tangalle gets less rain than the
South-West.
Weather
Dry season
The dry season is from December to April in the South and
West coasts of Sri Lanka. At this time, the weather should be nice, sunny and
dry. Since 2010, the climate has changed also in Sri Lanka. Before 2010, we
were able to promise to have only sun. Since 2010, we are not able any more to
promise that. A shower rain is possible on some days. This rain lasts for less
than one hour. Then the sun comes back quickly. Some days can be more or less
cloudy. We should see the sun every day. The temperature is always hot (30°C to
35°C by day and 22°C to 27°C by night).
Wet season or monsoon
The monsoon starts usually in May until November for the
South and West coasts of Sri Lanka. Tangalle has a micro-climate drier than the
rest part of the South and West coasts. It means it rains once or twice a day.
The rain is a shower of a few minutes to 1 hour. The day is cloudy but we
should see the sun every day. So, it is not too bad. The weather is
changing very quickly. Sometimes, we don’t see any rain for a week or more.
The humidity could be high and the temperature is 33°C to 35°C by day and 30°C
by night. The rains are welcome because it cools down. From middle of October
to end of November is the wettest time. The weather can be cloudy and rainy for
a few days, with a few showers per day. Then, cloudy-sunny for a few days and
again cloudy-rainy.
Because of the climate change, we can't predict the weather,
sunny during the monsoon or rainy during the dry season...
Ocean
The beach at Medaketiya and beginning of Madilla is only
sandy. This beach starts at about 400m from Patini West side. The beach from
middle of Madilla to end of Marakoliya is rocky. The beach at Patini is rocky
with a 20m wide area without rock where you can bath, refresh yourself.
Dry season
Since 2010, the climate has changed also in Sri Lanka.
Before 2010, during the dry season (December to March), the ocean was so calm,
completely flat, no wave at all, that we were able to snorkel around the rocks
in front of Patini. Since 2010, the dry season is much more wet (some rains on
some days) and the ocean is wavier. Therefore, snorkeling and swimming is not
any more possible. During dry season, you will be able to bath, refresh in the
ocean, if you are not afraid of waves. You don’t need to be afraid if you keep
your feet on the bottom of the ocean and water level at your lap. The waves are
not powerful. You can have good fun in the waves even for bad swimmers.
Monsoon
During monsoon (May to November), some days you will be able
to bath, refresh in the ocean, some days not because the ocean can be too
rough, the waves too much powerful and high. The ocean conditions can change
from morning (usually calmer) to afternoon (usually rougher) and from one day
to the other.
Because of the climate change, the ocean can be rough during
the dry season and calm during the monsoon...
Bathing places
You can bath in the following areas:
- In
front of Patini, left side: in the 20m wide area on the left of the big
flat rock standing right in front of Patini. This area can be used if the waves are not too powerful, also during the quiet time of the monsoon.
- A waves
breaker was built at about 500m from Patini west side. You can bath and
maybe swim behind this waves breaker. When the ocean is too rough, the
waves breaker is not enough high to break the waves.
- At Pareiwella,
the harbour beach or Navy beach, the water is very calm and maybe you can
see one or two colour fishes. Here, we can enjoy the ocean all year round. It is a local beach, so the women should
cover their body with short and tshirt to bath. During the week-end and
holidays, it is busy.
Swimming pools
Some hotels have swimming pools you can use if you drink/eat
there and/or with a fee:
- Marakoliya
Beach Resort, about 800m east side, the hotel at the end of the road,
- Lagoon
Paradise, about 1km east side,
- Cinnabar,
about 500m east side.
Tourist influx
Due to the country being separated in two areas regarding
the dry season and monsoon season, the tourist influx is very different during
the different season. During the dry season, the South and West are full of
tourists. But Tangalle never feels full because it has a very long beach and not
so many accommodations. You will have space on the beach and tables in the
restaurants. During the touristy season, more distractions are offered such as
dancing show and small parties. All the restaurants and bars are open. During
the monsoon, Tangalle gets very quiet. Only a few tourists come to visit.