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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
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 26.0 °C (78.8 °F), that of the warmest month (April) is of 29.7 °C (85.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Anuradhapura - Average temperatures (1991-2020) | Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
|---|
| January | 21.7 | 30.4 | 26 | 71 | 87 | 78.8 |
|---|
| February | 22.3 | 32 | 27.1 | 72 | 90 | 80.8 |
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| March | 23.6 | 34.5 | 29 | 74 | 94 | 84.3 |
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| April | 24.6 | 34.9 | 29.7 | 76 | 95 | 85.5 |
|---|
| May | 25.3 | 33.6 | 29.5 | 78 | 93 | 85.1 |
|---|
| June | 25.5 | 33.4 | 29.5 | 78 | 92 | 85 |
|---|
| July | 25.2 | 33.7 | 29.5 | 77 | 93 | 85 |
|---|
| August | 24.9 | 33.6 | 29.2 | 77 | 92 | 84.6 |
|---|
| September | 24.7 | 33.6 | 29.1 | 76 | 92 | 84.4 |
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| October | 24 | 32.7 | 28.4 | 75 | 91 | 83.1 |
|---|
| November | 23.4 | 31 | 27.2 | 74 | 88 | 80.9 |
|---|
| December | 22.6 | 29.5 | 26.1 | 73 | 85 | 78.9 |
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| Year | 24 | 32.7 | 28.3 | 75.2 | 90.9 | 83 |
|---|
In Anuradhapura,
precipitation amounts to 1325 millimeters (52.2 inches) per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from 11 mm (0.4 in) in the driest month (June) to 260 mm (10.2 in) in the wettest one (November). Here is the average precipitation.
Anuradhapura - Average precipitation| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
|---|
| January | 90 | 3.5 | 5 |
|---|
| February | 55 | 2.2 | 4 |
|---|
| March | 65 | 2.6 | 5 |
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| April | 145 | 5.7 | 8 |
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| May | 80 | 3.1 | 6 |
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| June | 11 | 0.4 | 4 |
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| July | 30 | 1.2 | 4 |
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| August | 40 | 1.6 | 4 |
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| September | 65 | 2.6 | 6 |
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| October | 245 | 9.6 | 13 |
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| November | 260 | 10.2 | 15 |
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| December | 235 | 9.3 | 13 |
|---|
| Year | 1325 | 52.2 | 87 |
|---|
In Anuradhapura, there are on average around 2660
sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
Anuradhapura - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
January | 7.5 | 235 | February | 8.5 | 235 | March | 9 | 280 | April | 8.5 | 255 | May | 7.5 | 225 | June | 6.5 | 200 | July | 6.5 | 200 | August | 7 | 220 | September | 7 | 205 | October | 6.5 | 210 | November | 6 | 185 | December | 6.5 | 200 | Year | 7.3 | 2660 |
Anuradhapura - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
In
January, the least warm month of the year, the weather in Anuradhapura is usually warm to hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 26.0 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 21.7 °C (71 °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 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 5 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).
In
February, the weather in Anuradhapura is usually warm to hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 27.1 °C (81 °F), with a minimum of 22.3 °C (72.1 °F) and a maximum of 32 °C (89.5 °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 55 mm (2.2 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).
In
March, the weather in Anuradhapura is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 29.0 °C (84 °F), with a minimum of 23.6 °C (74.4 °F) and a maximum of 34.5 °C (94.1 °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 65 mm (2.6 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).
In
April, the hottest month of the year, the weather in Anuradhapura is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 29.7 °C (86 °F), with a minimum of 24.6 °C (76.3 °F) and a maximum of 34.9 °C (94.8 °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 145 mm (5.7 in), distributed over 8 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).
In
May, the weather in Anuradhapura is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 29.5 °C (85 °F), with a minimum of 25.3 °C (77.6 °F) and a maximum of 33.6 °C (92.5 °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 80 mm (3.1 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).
In
June, the weather in Anuradhapura is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 29.5 °C (85 °F), with a minimum of 25.5 °C (78 °F) and a maximum of 33.4 °C (92.1 °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 11 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 4 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).
In
July, the weather in Anuradhapura is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 29.5 °C (85 °F), with a minimum of 25.2 °C (77.4 °F) and a maximum of 33.7 °C (92.7 °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 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 4 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).
In
August, the weather in Anuradhapura is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 29.2 °C (85 °F), with a minimum of 24.9 °C (76.8 °F) and a maximum of 33.6 °C (92.5 °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 40 mm (1.6 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).
In
September, the weather in Anuradhapura is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 29.1 °C (84 °F), with a minimum of 24.7 °C (76.4 °F) and a maximum of 33.6 °C (92.4 °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 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 6 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).
In
October, the weather in Anuradhapura is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 28.4 °C (83 °F), with a minimum of 24 °C (75.3 °F) and a maximum of 32.7 °C (90.9 °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 245 mm (9.6 in), distributed over 13 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).
In
November, the weather in Anuradhapura is usually warm to hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 27.2 °C (81 °F), with a minimum of 23.4 °C (74 °F) and a maximum of 31 °C (87.7 °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 260 mm (10.2 in), distributed over 15 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).
In
December, the weather in Anuradhapura is usually warm to hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 26.1 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 22.6 °C (72.8 °F) and a maximum of 29.5 °C (85.1 °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 235 mm (9.3 in), distributed over 13 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).