AI-generatedAnuradhapura at a glance
- Best time
- Jan – Feb, Jun
- Warmest month
- Mar · 35°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,210 h
- Rain a year
- 1,138 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC+5:30
- Elevation
- 100 m
Climate in Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. March is the warmest month with average highs of 35 °C, while December is the coolest at 30 °C. With around 2,210 hours of sunshine a year, Anuradhapura is sunny; March is the sunniest month with 7.4 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Anuradhapura
The best time to visit Anuradhapura is from January to February and in June. From March to September it can get very hot, with highs of up to 35 °C. The rainy season is from October to December; the wettest month is November with 259 mm.
Anuradhapura through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Anuradhapura in the dry season
Jan – Sep
Fair
- 31–35 °C by day
- 6.6 h of sun a day
- 85 rainy days in all
Anuradhapura in the rainy season
Oct – Dec
Poor
- 30–33 °C by day
- 4.5 h of sun a day
- 61 rainy days in all
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
No month
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Peak heat
Mar – Sep
Highs of 33 °C or more
Rainy months
Oct – Dec
Rainy season or more than 12 rainy days
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Anuradhapura for you.
Your best months: January, March, June
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Weather in October
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: January – February, June
October is in the cyclone season Hurricane season
Keep in mindFrequent rainStorm season
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 28°
- Midday, 13:00: about 33°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 32°
- Evening, 20:00: about 28°
- Night, 23:00: about 26°
05:5517:53
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:42–06:23 · evening 17:25–18:05
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:34–05:42 · evening 18:05–18:14
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
October in Anuradhapura compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs fall from about 33° at the start of the month to 32° at the end. The days get 0.2 h shorter.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 33° | 32° |
| Night-time low | 24° | 24° |
| Daylight | 12.1 h | 11.8 h |
What is the weather like in Anuradhapura in October?
In October, Anuradhapura is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. Expect around 5.2 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 20 days, totalling 185 mm. On about 29 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Anuradhapura.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 57 min05:55 – 17:53
- UV index
- 12 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 16 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 78 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 29 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+5:30offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %30 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %37 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Water bottle – drink plenty
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Compare two months in Anuradhapura
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
February has the better holiday weather in Anuradhapura: score 51 against 22. In February, days are 1 °C cooler than in October. February has 12 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in February.
| Month | October | February |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 22 | 51better |
| Daytime high | 33° | 32° |
| Night-time low | 24° | 22° |
| Sunshine | 5.2 h | 6.6 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 20 | 8better |
| Rainfall | 185 mm | 53 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 31 | 26better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Anuradhapura month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
49January31° · 5.2 h
In January, Anuradhapura is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. Expect around 5.2 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 87 mm in total. On about 22 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is a so-so month for a holiday in Anuradhapura – and yet one of the best months here.
Anuradhapura in January51February32° · 6.6 h
In February, Anuradhapura is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sun shines for around 6.6 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 53 mm. On about 27 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is a so-so month for a holiday in Anuradhapura – and yet one of the best months here.
Anuradhapura in February37March35° · 7.4 h
In March, Anuradhapura is very hot: daytime highs average 35 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sun shines for around 7.4 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 48 mm. The thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more every day. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Anuradhapura.
Anuradhapura in March21April35° · 7.0 h
In April, Anuradhapura is very hot: daytime highs average 35 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sun shines for around 7.0 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 106 mm. The thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more every day. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Anuradhapura.
Anuradhapura in April34May34° · 6.9 h
In May, Anuradhapura is very hot: daytime highs average 34 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sun shines for around 6.9 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 74 mm in total. The thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more every day. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Anuradhapura.
Anuradhapura in May48June33° · 6.8 h
In June, Anuradhapura is very hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sun shines for around 6.8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 24 mm. The thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more every day. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Anuradhapura – and yet one of the best months here.
Anuradhapura in June44July34° · 6.5 h
In July, Anuradhapura is very hot: daytime highs average 34 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sun shines for around 6.5 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 35 mm. The thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more every day. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Anuradhapura.
Anuradhapura in July40August34° · 6.4 h
In August, Anuradhapura is very hot: daytime highs average 34 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. Expect around 6.4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 45 mm. The thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more every day. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Anuradhapura.
Anuradhapura in August34September34° · 6.2 h
In September, Anuradhapura is very hot: daytime highs average 34 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. Expect around 6.2 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 55 mm in total. The thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more every day. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Anuradhapura.
Anuradhapura in September22October33° · 5.2 h
In October, Anuradhapura is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. Expect around 5.2 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 20 days, totalling 185 mm. On about 29 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Anuradhapura.
Anuradhapura in October29November31° · 4.1 h
In November, Anuradhapura is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. Expect around 4.1 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 23 days, totalling 259 mm. On about 24 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Anuradhapura.
Anuradhapura in November36December30° · 4.2 h
In December, Anuradhapura is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. Expect around 4.2 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 18 days, totalling 168 mm. On about 17 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Anuradhapura.
Anuradhapura in DecemberClimate in detail
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Anuradhapura
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Warm 20–24°
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (15+ muggy days)
HotOctober: nights around 24°. Hot nights: air conditioning makes sleeping much easier. Muggy on about 31 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (22°), the warmest in May (26°). Nights stay tropical all year (20 °C and more), so a room with air conditioning or at least a fan pays off. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) all year, on about 359 days a year.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 49 | 31° | 22° | 5.2 h | 12 | 87 |
| FebruaryFeb | 51 | 32° | 22° | 6.6 h | 8 | 53 |
| MarchMar | 37 | 35° | 24° | 7.4 h | 8 | 48 |
| AprilApr | 21 | 35° | 25° | 7.0 h | 15 | 106 |
| MayMay | 34 | 34° | 26° | 6.9 h | 12 | 74 |
| JuneJun | 48 | 33° | 26° | 6.8 h | 6 | 24 |
| JulyJul | 44 | 34° | 25° | 6.5 h | 7 | 35 |
| AugustAug | 40 | 34° | 25° | 6.4 h | 8 | 45 |
| SeptemberSep | 34 | 34° | 25° | 6.2 h | 10 | 55 |
| OctoberOct | 22 | 33° | 24° | 5.2 h | 20 | 185 |
| NovemberNov | 29 | 31° | 23° | 4.1 h | 23 | 259 |
| DecemberDec | 36 | 30° | 23° | 4.2 h | 18 | 168 |
Climate averages 1996–2025 (sunshine partly WMO station normals 1991–2020), not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
8.31° N, 80.41° E · 100 m · Asia/Colombo
Sunshine hours in Anuradhapura
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 5.2 of 12.0 hours of daylight in Anuradhapura, 43 % of the daylight hours.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain in Anuradhapura: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Anuradhapura has about 20 rainy days with 185 mm of rain in total.
UV index in Anuradhapura
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 12 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in April (UV 14).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 15 min
- Light brown skin
- about 20 min
- Olive skin
- about 25 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen the time, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Wind and clouds in Anuradhapura
How breezy and how cloudy Anuradhapura is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Anuradhapura typically peaks at 16 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, gentle breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 78 % of the sky over Anuradhapura: mostly cloudy, with about 5.2 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Anuradhapura
How often the day gets hot in Anuradhapura (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Anuradhapura has about 29 hot days, with an average daytime high of 33 °C: hot and muggy. Plan outdoor activities for the morning and evening, drink a lot and take breaks in the cool.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Planning a trip to Anuradhapura
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Anuradhapura in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Anuradhapura has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 43) and its weakest during October half-term (score 22).
- 26
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 35 °C by day
- 7.1 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Peak heat, Storm season
- 37
May half-term
May – Jun
Poor
- 34 °C by day
- 6.9 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Peak heat, Storm season
- 41
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 34 °C by day
- 6.4 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Peak heat
- 22
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 33 °C by day
- 5.2 h of sun a day
- 20 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 43
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
FairBest holidays
- 30 °C by day
- 4.7 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 10 h 55 min
- Distance
- 8,650 km
- Time zone
- UTC+5:30
- Jet lag
- About 5 days (5 h east)
Rule of thumb for flying east: for a few days before, go to bed and get up a little earlier, and get plenty of morning light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Storm season
Anuradhapura lies in an area that cyclones from the northern Indian Ocean can reach. The cyclone season runs from April to June and from October to December, with most storms in May and in November. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
- January
- February
- March
- April: Season
- May: Peak
- June: Season
- July
- August
- September
- October: Season
- November: Peak
- December: Season
Official season dates of the regional warning centres (NOAA, JMA, IMD, Météo-France, BoM, Fiji Meteorological Service); not a forecast.
Compare & alternatives
Anuradhapura compared
Put Anuradhapura side by side with another destination.
Anuradhapura vs Sigiriya
In October the holiday weather in Anuradhapura and Sigiriya is about equally good (score 22 vs 25). During the day Sigiriya is 1 °C cooler than Anuradhapura.
| in October | Anuradhapura | Sigiriya |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 22 | 25 |
| Daytime high | 33° | 32° |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 20 | 24 |
| Best time | Jan – Feb, Jun | Jan – Feb |
Through the year
Sri Lanka in October: the best places
In October, Anuradhapura ranks 16 of 17 destinations in this country.
- Galle30°28°69
- 2Hambantota31°28°69
- 3Mirissa30°28°69
- 4Negombo31°28°66
- 5Batticaloa32°29°66
- 6Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte31°28°65
- 7Bentota30°28°65
- 8Trincomalee33°29°61
- 16AnuradhapuraThis page33°22
Near Anuradhapura
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Anuradhapura
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Anuradhapura's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Anuradhapura
When is the best time to visit Anuradhapura?
The best time to visit Anuradhapura is from January to February and in June. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Anuradhapura?
March is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C and nights around 24 °C. December is the coolest month at 30 °C.
When does it rain most in Anuradhapura?
The rainy season is from October to December; the wettest month is November with 259 mm. The driest month is June with 24 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Anuradhapura get?
Anuradhapura gets around 2,210 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is March with 7.4 hours a day; in November there are 4.1 hours a day.
What time zone is Anuradhapura in?
Anuradhapura is on UTC+5:30 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Anuradhapura?
A nonstop flight from London to Anuradhapura takes about 10 h 55 min, for a straight-line distance of about 8,650 km.
When is cyclone season in Anuradhapura?
Anuradhapura lies in an area that cyclones from the northern Indian Ocean can reach. The cyclone season runs from April to June and from October to December, with most storms in May and in November. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
Which school holidays are best for Anuradhapura?
Anuradhapura has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 43) and its weakest during October half-term (score 22). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 26, May half-term 37, summer holidays 41, October half-term 22, Christmas holidays 43.