The sea temperature at Mirissa today is 28.7 °C (84 °F) – water as warm as a bath. The usual October average is 28.9 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea temperature has held at around 28.7 °C. Swimmable all year – the sea averages 27 °C or more in every month. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27.9°C / 82.3°F | 28.3°C / 82.9°F | 28.6°C / 83.5°F |
| February | 28.2°C / 82.7°F | 28.6°C / 83.5°F | 28.9°C / 84.0°F |
| March | 29.0°C / 84.3°F | 29.3°C / 84.7°F | 29.6°C / 85.4°F |
| April | 29.8°C / 85.6°F | 30.1°C / 86.1°F | 30.5°C / 87.0°F |
| May | 28.9°C / 83.9°F | 29.5°C / 85.0°F | 29.9°C / 85.9°F |
| June | 28.3°C / 82.9°F | 28.7°C / 83.7°F | 29.1°C / 84.3°F |
| July | 27.4°C / 81.3°F | 28.0°C / 82.3°F | 28.6°C / 83.6°F |
| August | 26.9°C / 80.4°F | 27.9°C / 82.3°F | 28.9°C / 84.1°F |
| September | 27.8°C / 82.0°F | 28.5°C / 83.4°F | 29.1°C / 84.4°F |
| October | 28.4°C / 83.1°F | 28.9°C / 83.9°F | 29.2°C / 84.5°F |
| November | 29.0°C / 84.3°F | 29.4°C / 84.8°F | 29.8°C / 85.6°F |
| December | 28.1°C / 82.6°F | 28.7°C / 83.6°F | 29.2°C / 84.6°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24.2°C / 75.6°F | 26.2°C / 79.2°F | 28.9°C / 84.0°F |
| February | 24.5°C / 76.1°F | 27.0°C / 80.6°F | 30.5°C / 86.8°F |
| March | 25.0°C / 77.1°F | 27.2°C / 80.9°F | 30.1°C / 86.2°F |
| April | 25.6°C / 78.1°F | 27.5°C / 81.5°F | 30.1°C / 86.1°F |
| May | 26.3°C / 79.4°F | 27.6°C / 81.7°F | 29.4°C / 84.9°F |
| June | 25.9°C / 78.7°F | 27.3°C / 81.1°F | 29.1°C / 84.4°F |
| July | 25.9°C / 78.6°F | 27.1°C / 80.9°F | 28.9°C / 84.0°F |
| August | 25.5°C / 78.0°F | 26.9°C / 80.4°F | 28.7°C / 83.6°F |
| September | 25.5°C / 77.9°F | 26.8°C / 80.3°F | 28.7°C / 83.6°F |
| October | 25.1°C / 77.1°F | 26.5°C / 79.6°F | 28.4°C / 83.1°F |
| November | 24.8°C / 76.6°F | 26.4°C / 79.5°F | 28.6°C / 83.4°F |
| December | 24.6°C / 76.2°F | 26.5°C / 79.7°F | 28.9°C / 84.1°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Mirissa holidays
Mirissa is a small beach town on the south coast of Sri Lanka, in Matara District, where a curved bay of golden sand is backed by coconut palms. Once a fishing village, it now has guesthouses, surf schools and harbour-based whale-watching boats.
Beaches
Mirissa Beach runs for about 1 km around the bay; its middle section is sheltered and good for swimming in the dry season, while a reef break at one end draws surfers. Secret Beach, beyond the headland near Mirissa's fishing harbour on the western side of town, is a small, rocky-edged cove reached by a lane or a short walk. Weligama, a few kilometres west, has a long sandy bay with gentle waves where many people take their first surfing lesson, which also makes it a calmer choice for families. The sea temperature on this page is measured in Mirissa Bay.
Things to do
Coconut Tree Hill, a grassy headland at the eastern end of the bay, is covered in palms and is a popular sunset viewpoint. Parrot Rock, a small rocky islet at the middle of the beach, can be climbed at low tide for a view along the shore. Whale-watching trips leave Mirissa harbour early in the morning, mostly from November to April, in search of blue whales and other whales and dolphins. Galle Fort, a walled old town built by the Portuguese and Dutch and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is about 35 km to the west.
Weather and best time to visit
At Mirissa the sea stays above 27 °C / 81 °F all year, even in the coolest month.
Mirissa is hot and humid all year. The best season is December to April, generally with calmer seas and relatively dry weather on the south coast. From May to September the south-west monsoon brings more rain and rough seas, with strong currents on the beach, and some whale-watching trips stop. December to March is the busiest period.
Hotels and where to stay
Guesthouses, villas and small hotels line the beach road and the lanes behind Mirissa Beach, and places near the harbour suit those who want an early start for whale watching. Larger resorts stand on the coast between Mirissa and Weligama.
Signature hotels: Mandara Resort Mirissa (Pelena)
Airport and getting there
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), north of Colombo, is about 190 km from Mirissa, around 3 to 3.5 hours by car via the Southern Expressway. Trains on the coastal line from Colombo stop at Weligama and Matara, close to Mirissa, and tuk-tuks cover the last kilometres. Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI), about 100 km to the east, is another possible gateway when suitable flights are available.