AI-generatedMihintale at a glance
- Best time
- Jan – Feb
- Warmest month
- Mar · 35°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,170 h
- Rain a year
- 1,274 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC+5:30
- Elevation
- 113 m
Climate in Mihintale
Mihintale 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 2,170 hours of sunshine a year, Mihintale is moderately sunny; March is the sunniest month with 7.3 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Mihintale
The best time to visit Mihintale is from January to February. 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 264 mm.
Mihintale through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Mihintale in the dry season
Jan – Sep
Poor
- 31–35 °C by day
- 6.4 h of sun a day
- 114 rainy days in all
Mihintale in the rainy season
Oct – Dec
Poor
- 30–33 °C by day
- 4.5 h of sun a day
- 64 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 Mihintale for you.
Your best months: January – March
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
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°
05:5517:52
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 17:24–18:05
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:34–05:42 · evening 18:05–18:13
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 Mihintale 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 Mihintale in October?
In October, Mihintale is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. Expect around 5.1 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 22 days, totalling 209 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 Mihintale.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 57 min05:55 – 17:52
- 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
- 79 %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 %20 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %35 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Nature escape”.
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 Mihintale
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
January has the better holiday weather in Mihintale: score 45 against 17. In January, days are 2 °C cooler than in October. January has 10 fewer rainy days.
| Month | October | January |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 17 | 45better |
| Daytime high | 33° | 31° |
| Night-time low | 24° | 22° |
| Sunshine | 5.1 h | 5.2 h |
| Rainy days | 22 | 12better |
| Rainfall | 209 mm | 84 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 31 | 29better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Mihintale month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
45January31° · 5.2 h
In January, Mihintale 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 84 mm in total. On about 21 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 Mihintale – and yet one of the best months here.
Mihintale in January44February32° · 6.4 h
In February, Mihintale is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. Expect around 6.4 hours of sunshine 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 Mihintale – and yet one of the best months here.
Mihintale in February33March35° · 7.3 h
In March, Mihintale is very hot: daytime highs average 35 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sun shines for around 7.3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 52 mm in total. 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 Mihintale.
Mihintale in March14April35° · 7.0 h
In April, Mihintale 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 18 days, adding up to 126 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 Mihintale.
Mihintale in April18May34° · 6.7 h
In May, Mihintale is very hot: daytime highs average 34 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sun shines for around 6.7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 95 mm. 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 Mihintale.
Mihintale in May30June33° · 6.6 h
In June, Mihintale is very hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sun shines for around 6.6 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 39 mm in total. The thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more every day. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Mihintale.
Mihintale in June28July34° · 6.3 h
In July, Mihintale is very hot: daytime highs average 34 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. Expect around 6.3 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 47 mm in total. The thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more every day. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Mihintale.
Mihintale in July24August34° · 6.4 h
In August, Mihintale 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 is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 62 mm in total. The thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more every day. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Mihintale.
Mihintale in August17September34° · 6.1 h
In September, Mihintale is very hot: daytime highs average 34 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. Expect around 6.1 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 73 mm. 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 Mihintale.
Mihintale in September17October33° · 5.1 h
In October, Mihintale is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. Expect around 5.1 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 22 days, totalling 209 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 Mihintale.
Mihintale in October26November31° · 4.1 h
In November, Mihintale 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 264 mm. On about 23 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 Mihintale.
Mihintale in November33December30° · 4.2 h
In December, Mihintale 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 170 mm. On about 16 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 Mihintale.
Mihintale in DecemberClimate in detail
Year & climate table
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Mihintale
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 360 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 | 45 | 31° | 22° | 5.2 h | 12 | 84 |
| FebruaryFeb | 44 | 32° | 22° | 6.4 h | 8 | 53 |
| MarchMar | 33 | 35° | 24° | 7.3 h | 9 | 52 |
| AprilApr | 14 | 35° | 25° | 7.0 h | 18 | 126 |
| MayMay | 18 | 34° | 26° | 6.7 h | 16 | 95 |
| JuneJun | 30 | 33° | 26° | 6.6 h | 12 | 39 |
| JulyJul | 28 | 34° | 25° | 6.3 h | 11 | 47 |
| AugustAug | 24 | 34° | 25° | 6.4 h | 12 | 62 |
| SeptemberSep | 17 | 34° | 25° | 6.1 h | 15 | 73 |
| OctoberOct | 17 | 33° | 24° | 5.1 h | 22 | 209 |
| NovemberNov | 26 | 31° | 23° | 4.1 h | 23 | 264 |
| DecemberDec | 33 | 30° | 23° | 4.2 h | 18 | 170 |
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
8.36° N, 80.51° E · 113 m · Asia/Colombo
Sunshine
Sunshine hours in Mihintale
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 5.1 of 12.0 hours of daylight in Mihintale, 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
Rain in Mihintale: 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, Mihintale has about 22 rainy days with 209 mm of rain in total.
UV index
UV index in Mihintale
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 & clouds
Wind and clouds in Mihintale
How breezy and how cloudy Mihintale 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 Mihintale 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 79 % of the sky over Mihintale: mostly cloudy, with about 5.1 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 & humidity
Heat and humidity in Mihintale
How often the day gets hot in Mihintale (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, Mihintale 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 Mihintale
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Mihintale 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.
Mihintale has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 39) and its weakest during October half-term (score 17).
- 20
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 35 °C by day
- 7.1 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Peak heat, Storm season
- 20
May half-term
May – Jun
Poor
- 34 °C by day
- 6.7 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Peak heat, Storm season
- 25
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Poor
- 34 °C by day
- 6.4 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Peak heat
- 17
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 33 °C by day
- 5.1 h of sun a day
- 22 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 39
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
PoorBest 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
- 8,660 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.
Good to know: Sri Lanka
- Currency
- Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
- Languages
- Sinhala, Tamil
- Sockets
- Type D, G, M · 230 V
- Traffic
- Drives on the left
- Dialling code
- +94
UK plugs fit
Sources: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0). Please check details before you travel.
Storm season
Mihintale 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
Compare with another place
Mihintale compared
Put Mihintale side by side with another destination.
Mihintale vs Anuradhapura
In October the holiday weather in Mihintale and Anuradhapura is about equally good (score 17 vs 14). During the day it is about as warm in Anuradhapura as in Mihintale.
| in October | Mihintale | Anuradhapura |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 17 | 14 |
| Daytime high | 33° | 33° |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 22 | 20 |
| Best time | Jan – Feb | Jan – Feb, Jun |
Through the year
Best places in the country
Sri Lanka in October: the best places
In October, Mihintale ranks 21 of 22 destinations in this country.
- Hambantota31°28°69
- 2Galle30°28°69
- 3Matara30°28°69
- 4Mirissa30°28°69
- 5Negombo31°28°66
- 6Batticaloa32°29°66
- 7Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte31°28°65
- 8Kalutara30°28°65
- 21MihintaleThis page33°17
Places nearby
Near Mihintale
Other destinations close by.
Places with a similar climate
Places with a climate like Mihintale
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Mihintale's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Mihintale
When is the best time to visit Mihintale?
The best time to visit Mihintale is from January to February. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Mihintale?
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 Mihintale?
The rainy season is from October to December; the wettest month is November with 264 mm. The driest month is June with 39 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Mihintale get?
Mihintale gets around 2,170 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is March with 7.3 hours a day; in November there are 4.1 hours a day.
What time zone is Mihintale in?
Mihintale is on UTC+5:30 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Mihintale?
A nonstop flight from London to Mihintale takes about 10 h 55 min, for a straight-line distance of about 8,660 km.
When is cyclone season in Mihintale?
Mihintale 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 Mihintale?
Mihintale has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 39) and its weakest during October half-term (score 17). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 20, May half-term 20, summer holidays 25, October half-term 17, Christmas holidays 39.