Climate in Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka)

The climate of Anuradhapura is tropical, hot all year round, with a rainy season from October to December and a shorter rainy period in April (and sometimes in May). During the rest of the year, it does not rain much, particularly from June to August, when the monsoon is at its peak of activity further north, in India.
The city is located in north-central Sri Lanka, at 8 degrees north latitude. About 50 km (30 mi) to the southeast are the archaeological sites of Dambulla and Sigiriya, while further east is Polonnaruwa.
The relatively cooler period is from November to January. By February the temperature rises, and from March to October, before the rains, it can be very hot, even more than on the coast. In July 2014, the temperature reached 39.7 °C (103.5 °F). At night, on the other hand, the temperature is slightly lower from December to February.



Sri Lanka is in the path of tropical cyclones. Typically, on the Indian Ocean north of the Equator, cyclones occur from April to December, although Sri Lanka is usually only affected in November and December, and more rarely in May. For example, around May 16-17, there were heavy rains in 2016 and 2020, brought by two cyclones (Roanu and Amphan) at the start of their development in the Bay of Bengal. However, since the sea is warm all year round, in theory they can also form from January to March, perhaps in a light form (such as tropical storms).

Best Time

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The best time to visit Anuradhapura is from mid-January to the end of March. After the rainy period that goes from April to mid-May, approximately from May 20 to the end of August there is another dry period, although the sun shines less frequently, moreover, sometimes in August there can be heavy rains, even though they are rare.
The worst period is from October to December, which is the second and most abundant rainy season.

Anuradhapura - Climate data

In Anuradhapura, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 26.1 °C (79 °F), that of the warmest month (April) is of 29.6 °C (85.4 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 1395 millimeters (54.9 inches) per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from 15.4 mm (0.6 in) in the driest month (June) to 281.4 mm (11.1 in) in the wettest one (November). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 2660 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Anuradhapura - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the least warm month of the year, is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 26.1 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 21.8 °C (71.2 °F) and a maximum of 30.4 °C (86.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 19 °C (66 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 86 mm (3.4 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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February is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 27.2 °C (81 °F), with a minimum of 22.2 °C (72 °F) and a maximum of 32.2 °C (90 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 19 °C (66.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 60.1 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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March is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 29.2 °C (84 °F), with a minimum of 23.5 °C (74.3 °F) and a maximum of 34.8 °C (94.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 21 °C (69.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (98 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 62.1 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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April, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 29.6 °C (85 °F), with a minimum of 24.6 °C (76.3 °F) and a maximum of 34.7 °C (94.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 23 °C (73 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (98 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 180.1 mm (7.1 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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May is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 29.6 °C (85 °F), with a minimum of 25.4 °C (77.7 °F) and a maximum of 33.7 °C (92.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 22.5 °C (73 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (96.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 93.8 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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June is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 29.3 °C (85 °F), with a minimum of 25.4 °C (77.7 °F) and a maximum of 33.2 °C (91.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 24 °C (75 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (95 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 15.4 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).

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July is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 29.4 °C (85 °F), with a minimum of 25.2 °C (77.4 °F) and a maximum of 33.5 °C (92.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 23.5 °C (74.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (97.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 23.6 mm (0.9 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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August is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 29.4 °C (85 °F), with a minimum of 25 °C (77 °F) and a maximum of 33.8 °C (92.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 22.5 °C (72 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (97 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 42.6 mm (1.7 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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September is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 29.3 °C (85 °F), with a minimum of 24.7 °C (76.5 °F) and a maximum of 33.9 °C (93 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 23 °C (73 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (97.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 66.5 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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October is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 28.2 °C (83 °F), with a minimum of 24 °C (75.2 °F) and a maximum of 32.5 °C (90.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 22.5 °C (72.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (96 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 259 mm (10.2 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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November is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 27 °C (81 °F), with a minimum of 23.3 °C (73.9 °F) and a maximum of 30.8 °C (87.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 281.4 mm (11.1 in), distributed over 17 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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December is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 26.2 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 22.6 °C (72.7 °F) and a maximum of 29.8 °C (85.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 20 °C (68 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (90 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 224.6 mm (8.8 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).