Anuradhapura in Fall
In fall (September, October and November), Anuradhapura sees average daytime highs around 31°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 507 mm of rain over about 60 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs ease from about 32°C in early September to 29°C by late November. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 8% of the time across fall, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Fall is Anuradhapura's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Anuradhapura's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 31°C
- 3rd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 24°C
- Rainfall
- 507 mm
- 60 wet days
- Avg wind
- 12 km/h
- Travel score
- 3.3
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Sep · Oct · Nov
Temperature in Anuradhapura in Fall
Over the season highs ease from about 32°C in early September to 29°C by late November.
A typical fall day in Anuradhapura reaches about 31°C and drops to 24°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is September, the coolest November.
How fall really feels in Anuradhapura
Once humidity and wind are folded in, fall brings about 91 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in fall is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Anuradhapura weather by month
How the three fall months (September, October and November) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29° / 22° | 73 | 11 | 11.6 | 5.4 |
| Feb | 30° / 22° | 50 | 8.1 | 11.7 | 5.0 |
| Mar | 33° / 23° | 49 | 8.7 | 11.9 | 3.7 |
| Apr | 33° / 25° | 122 | 17.3 | 12.2 | 2.7 |
| May | 33° / 25° | 87 | 15.7 | 12.4 | 3.1 |
| Jun | 32° / 25° | 39 | 11.7 | 12.5 | 3.6 |
| Jul | 32° / 25° | 43 | 11.1 | 12.4 | 3.5 |
| Aug | 32° / 25° | 56 | 12.4 | 12.3 | 3.4 |
| Sep | 32° / 25° | 74 | 15 | 12 | 3.2 |
| Oct | 31° / 24° | 199 | 21.5 | 11.8 | 3.1 |
| Nov | 30° / 23° | 234 | 23.1 | 11.6 | 3.5 |
| Dec | 29° / 22° | 163 | 17.7 | 11.5 | 4.5 |
Cloud cover in Fall
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 8% of the time across fall.
Chance of precipitation in Fall
Anuradhapura gets around 507 mm of rain over 60 wet days across fall. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Fall
Most of fall feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Fall
Winds average 12 km/h across fall.
Sunrise & sunset in Fall
Daylight runs from about 12 h 12 min in early September to 11 h 36 min by late November. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Fall
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across fall, about 4.8 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Anuradhapura
In fall, Anuradhapura overlaps its cyclone and rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Anuradhapura sits in the North Indian Ocean cyclone zone; the season peaks May and October–November.
Anuradhapura's rainy season runs October–December, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is fall a good time to visit Anuradhapura?
Our two travel scores rate fall for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
fall is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Anuradhapura.
What to pack for Anuradhapura in Fall
From fall's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In fall, Anuradhapura sees daytime highs around 31°C and nights near 24°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 60 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Anuradhapura in Fall
The nearest coast averages about 28°C across fall — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 69 km away) is warmest in April at about 30°C and coldest in January near 27°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 |
| Comfort | Warm | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27 | Warm |
| Feb | 28 | Warm |
| Mar | 29 | Tropical |
| Apr | 30 | Tropical |
| May | 30 | Tropical |
| Jun | 29 | Tropical |
| Jul | 28 | Tropical |
| Aug | 28 | Warm |
| Sep | 28 | Tropical |
| Oct | 28 | Tropical |
| Nov | 29 | Tropical |
| Dec | 28 | Warm |
UV index in Anuradhapura in Fall
Clear-sky midday UV across fall averages around 12 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Anuradhapura peaks around April 22 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 at about 9 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 |
| Level | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10 | Very high |
| Feb | 12 | Extreme |
| Mar | 13 | Extreme |
| Apr | 14 | Extreme |
| May | 13 | Extreme |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 12 | Extreme |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 9 | Very high |
Air quality in Anuradhapura in Fall
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where fall falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Anuradhapura is worst in April — around 31 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.6× the cleanest month (July, 19 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 23 | 22 | 27 | 31 | 28 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 26 | 27 | 24 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23 | Moderate |
| Feb | 22 | Moderate |
| Mar | 27 | Moderate |
| Apr | 31 | Moderate |
| May | 28 | Moderate |
| Jun | 20 | Moderate |
| Jul | 19 | Moderate |
| Aug | 19 | Moderate |
| Sep | 20 | Moderate |
| Oct | 26 | Moderate |
| Nov | 27 | Moderate |
| Dec | 24 | Moderate |
Where is Anuradhapura?
Anuradhapura sits at 8.3°N, 80.4°E, 100 m above sea level, in Sri Lanka. The nearest listed city is Vavuniya, 50 km away.
Topography around Anuradhapura
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Anuradhapura.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Anuradhapura has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 35 m around an average of 91 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 317 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,165 m.
The land around Anuradhapura is covered by trees (60%) within 3 km, trees (59%) and grassland (20%) within 16 km, and trees (70%) within 80 km.
Sri Lanka travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type D / G / M
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 27% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $5,002
- 2025
- Happiness
- 4.0 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 47%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 3.3
- per 100k, 2019
- Road deaths
- 19.7
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Upper middle
- World Bank
- English
- Low
- EF EPI 486
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Anuradhapura (8.3122°, 80.4131°, elevation 100 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.