AI-generatedNuwara Eliya at a glance
- Best time
- Jan – Jun, Aug
- Warmest month
- Apr · 23°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,030 h
- Rain a year
- 2,555 mm
- Climate
- Highland
- Time zone
- UTC+5:30
- Elevation
- 1,868 m
Climate in Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya has a highland climate: mild, spring-like days all year round and cool nights. April is the warmest month with average highs of 23 °C, while July is the coolest at 19 °C. With around 2,030 hours of sunshine a year, Nuwara Eliya is moderately sunny; March is the sunniest month with 6.6 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Nuwara Eliya
The best time to visit Nuwara Eliya is from January to June and in August. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, the weather is pleasant all year round. Rain is frequent in July and from September to December; the wettest month is October with 371 mm.
Nuwara Eliya through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Nuwara Eliya in spring
Mar – May
Good
- 22–23 °C by day
- 6.3 h of sun a day
- 64 rainy days in all
Nuwara Eliya in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 19–20 °C by day
- 5.9 h of sun a day
- 80 rainy days in all
Nuwara Eliya in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 20 °C by day
- 4.9 h of sun a day
- 78 rainy days in all
Nuwara Eliya in winter
Dec – Feb
Good
- 20–21 °C by day
- 5.2 h of sun a day
- 48 rainy days in all
Which month for what?
Hiking & mountain trips
All year
13–27 °C in the village, little snow
Rainy months
Jul, Sep – Dec
18 or more rainy days, often short showers and storms
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Nuwara Eliya for you.
Your best months: February, June – July
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Weather in October
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: January – June, August
Good forSightseeing & walks
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 16°
- Midday, 13:00: about 20°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 19°
- Evening, 20:00: about 16°
- Night, 23:00: about 15°
05:5317:52
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:40–06:21 · evening 17:24–18:05
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:32–05:40 · 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 Nuwara Eliya compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs stay at about 20° from start to end.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 20° | 20° |
| Night-time low | 13° | 13° |
| Daylight | 12.1 h | 11.9 h |
What is the weather like in Nuwara Eliya in October?
In October, Nuwara Eliya is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. Expect around 4.9 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 27 days, adding up to 371 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Nuwara Eliya.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 59 min05:53 – 17:52
- UV index
- 14 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 9 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 86 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC+5:30offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %32 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Mountain air”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Compare two months in Nuwara Eliya
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 Nuwara Eliya: score 73 against 56. In February, days are 1 °C warmer than in October. February has 15 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in February.
| Month | October | February |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 56 | 73better |
| Daytime high | 20° | 21° |
| Night-time low | 13° | 11° |
| Sunshine | 4.9 h | 6.1 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 27 | 12better |
| Rainfall | 371 mm | 104 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Nuwara Eliya month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
63January20° · 5.2 h
In January, Nuwara Eliya is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. Expect around 5.2 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 139 mm. All in all, January is a good month for a holiday in Nuwara Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya in January73February21° · 6.1 h
In February, Nuwara Eliya is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. Expect around 6.1 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 104 mm in total. All in all, February is a good month for a holiday in Nuwara Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya in February72March23° · 6.6 h
In March, Nuwara Eliya is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sun shines for around 6.6 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 120 mm in total. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Nuwara Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya in March60April23° · 6.1 h
In April, Nuwara Eliya is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 6.1 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 22 days, adding up to 254 mm. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Nuwara Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya in April60May22° · 6.1 h
In May, Nuwara Eliya is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. Expect around 6.1 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 28 days, adding up to 226 mm. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Nuwara Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya in May60June20° · 5.9 h
In June, Nuwara Eliya is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. Expect around 5.9 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 26 days, adding up to 159 mm. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Nuwara Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya in June59July19° · 5.8 h
In July, Nuwara Eliya is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. Expect around 5.8 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 27 days, adding up to 180 mm. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Nuwara Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya in July60August19° · 5.9 h
In August, Nuwara Eliya is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. Expect around 5.9 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 27 days, adding up to 185 mm. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Nuwara Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya in August59September20° · 5.6 h
In September, Nuwara Eliya is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. Expect around 5.6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 26 days, adding up to 224 mm. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Nuwara Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya in September56October20° · 4.9 h
In October, Nuwara Eliya is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. Expect around 4.9 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 27 days, adding up to 371 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Nuwara Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya in October54November20° · 4.1 h
In November, Nuwara Eliya is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. Expect around 4.1 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 25 days, adding up to 360 mm. All in all, November is a so-so month for a holiday in Nuwara Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya in November55December20° · 4.4 h
In December, Nuwara Eliya is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 4.4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 21 days, adding up to 234 mm. All in all, December is a so-so month for a holiday in Nuwara Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya 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 Nuwara Eliya
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cool 8–15°
CoolOctober: nights around 13°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in February (11°), the warmest in June (14°).
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 | 63 | 20° | 11° | 5.2 h | 15 | 139 |
| FebruaryFeb | 73 | 21° | 11° | 6.1 h | 12 | 104 |
| MarchMar | 72 | 23° | 11° | 6.6 h | 13 | 120 |
| AprilApr | 60 | 23° | 12° | 6.1 h | 22 | 254 |
| MayMay | 60 | 22° | 14° | 6.1 h | 28 | 226 |
| JuneJun | 60 | 20° | 14° | 5.9 h | 26 | 159 |
| JulyJul | 59 | 19° | 14° | 5.8 h | 27 | 180 |
| AugustAug | 60 | 19° | 14° | 5.9 h | 27 | 185 |
| SeptemberSep | 59 | 20° | 13° | 5.6 h | 26 | 224 |
| OctoberOct | 56 | 20° | 13° | 4.9 h | 27 | 371 |
| NovemberNov | 54 | 20° | 13° | 4.1 h | 25 | 360 |
| DecemberDec | 55 | 20° | 12° | 4.4 h | 21 | 234 |
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
6.97° N, 80.78° E · 1,868 m · Asia/Colombo
Sunshine
Sunshine hours in Nuwara Eliya
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 4.9 of 12.0 hours of daylight in Nuwara Eliya, 41 % 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 Nuwara Eliya: 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, Nuwara Eliya has about 27 rainy days with 371 mm of rain in total.
UV index
UV index in Nuwara Eliya
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 14 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in April (UV 16).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 10 min
- Light brown skin
- about 15 min
- Olive skin
- about 20 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 Nuwara Eliya
How breezy and how cloudy Nuwara Eliya 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 Nuwara Eliya typically peaks at 9 km/h during the day: Beaufort 2, light breeze or less.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 86 % of the sky over Nuwara Eliya: mostly overcast, with about 4.9 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.
Planning a trip to Nuwara Eliya
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Nuwara Eliya 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.
Nuwara Eliya has its best school-holiday weather during the Easter holidays (score 64) and its weakest during October half-term (score 56).
- 64
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
GoodBest holidays
- 23 °C by day
- 6.2 h of sun a day
- 19 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 60
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 21 °C by day
- 6.1 h of sun a day
- 28 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 60
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Good
- 19 °C by day
- 5.9 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 56
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 20 °C by day
- 4.9 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 59
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Fair
- 20 °C by day
- 4.8 h of sun a day
- 18 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 11 h 5 min
- Distance
- 8,800 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.
Compare & alternatives
Compare with another place
Nuwara Eliya compared
Put Nuwara Eliya side by side with another destination.
Nuwara Eliya vs Ella
In October Nuwara Eliya has the better holiday weather (score 56 vs 46). During the day Ella is 7 °C warmer than Nuwara Eliya.
| in October | Nuwara Eliya | Ella |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 56 | 46 |
| Daytime high | 20° | 27° |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 27 | 27 |
| Best time | Jan – Jun, Aug | Feb |
Through the year
Best places in the country
Sri Lanka in October: the best places
In October, Nuwara Eliya ranks 11 of 22 destinations in this country.
- Hambantota31°28°69
- 2Matara30°28°69
- 3Mirissa30°28°69
- 4Galle30°28°69
- 5Negombo31°28°66
- 6Batticaloa32°29°66
- 7Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte31°28°65
- 8Kalutara30°28°65
- 11Nuwara EliyaThis page20°56
Places nearby
Near Nuwara Eliya
Other destinations close by.
Places with a similar climate
Places with a climate like Nuwara Eliya
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Nuwara Eliya's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Nuwara Eliya
When is the best time to visit Nuwara Eliya?
The best time to visit Nuwara Eliya is from January to June and in August. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Nuwara Eliya?
April is the warmest month, with average highs of 23 °C and nights around 12 °C. July is the coolest month at 19 °C.
When does it rain most in Nuwara Eliya?
Rain is frequent in July and from September to December; the wettest month is October with 371 mm. The driest month is February with 104 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Nuwara Eliya get?
Nuwara Eliya gets around 2,030 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is March with 6.6 hours a day; in November there are 4.1 hours a day.
What time zone is Nuwara Eliya in?
Nuwara Eliya is on UTC+5:30 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Nuwara Eliya?
A nonstop flight from London to Nuwara Eliya takes about 11 h 5 min, for a straight-line distance of about 8,800 km.
Which school holidays are best for Nuwara Eliya?
Nuwara Eliya has its best school-holiday weather during the Easter holidays (score 64) and its weakest during October half-term (score 56). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 64, May half-term 60, summer holidays 60, October half-term 56, Christmas holidays 59.