, 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. At night, on the other hand, the temperature is slightly lower from December to February.
By February the temperature rises, and from March to October, before the rains, it can be very hot, even more than on the coast. The hottest period is the one preceding the southwest monsoon, which arrives in mid-May. In May 2024, the temperature reached 39.8 °C (103.6 °F).
. 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).
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.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the least warm month of the year, is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
26,1 °C, with a minimum of
21,8 °C and a maximum of
30,4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
19 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
86 mm, 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 of
13 kph.
February is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
27,2 °C, with a minimum of
22,2 °C and a maximum of
32,2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
19 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34,5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
60,1 mm, 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 of
11 kph.
March is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29,2 °C, with a minimum of
23,5 °C and a maximum of
34,8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36,5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
62,1 mm, 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 of
9 kph.
April, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29,6 °C, with a minimum of
24,6 °C and a maximum of
34,7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
23 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36,5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
180,1 mm, 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 of
8 kph.
May is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29,6 °C, with a minimum of
25,4 °C and a maximum of
33,7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22,5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
93,8 mm, 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 of
13 kph.
June is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29,3 °C, with a minimum of
25,4 °C and a maximum of
33,2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
24 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
15,4 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 35 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
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 of
17 kph.
July is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29,4 °C, with a minimum of
25,2 °C and a maximum of
33,5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
23,5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36,5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
23,6 mm, 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 of
15 kph.
August is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29,4 °C, with a minimum of
25 °C and a maximum of
33,8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22,5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
42,6 mm, 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 of
14 kph.
September is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29,3 °C, with a minimum of
24,7 °C and a maximum of
33,9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
23 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36,5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
66,5 mm, 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 of
13 kph.
October is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28,2 °C, with a minimum of
24 °C and a maximum of
32,5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22,5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35,5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
259 mm, 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 of
10 kph.
November is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
27 °C, with a minimum of
23,3 °C and a maximum of
30,8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21,5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33,5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
281,4 mm, 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 of
10 kph.
December is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
26,2 °C, with a minimum of
22,6 °C and a maximum of
29,8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
20 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32,5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
224,6 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 40 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
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 of
13 kph.