Anuradhapura weather in March

In March, Anuradhapura sees average daytime highs of 33°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 49 mm of rain across 8.7 wet days and about 11.9 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 32°C in the first days to 34°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 40% of the time in March, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 48 min at the start of March to 12 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is Anuradhapura's 1st-clearest and 10th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Anuradhapura's year-round climate.

Daytime high
33°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
23°
4th coldest
Rainfall
49 mm
8.7 wet days
Daylight
11 h 54 min
6:20 AM – 6:16 PM
Cloud cover
50%
1st clearest
Wind
8 km/h
10th windiest
Solar energy
6.2 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.7
out of 10

Anuradhapura is city in North Central Province, Sri Lanka.

Density
8/km²
people per km²
Founded
~450 BCE

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in March

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 32°C in the first days to 34°C by the end.

A typical March day in Anuradhapura reaches about 33°C in the afternoon and slips back to 23°C overnight — a 10°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 31°C and 35°C. Set against its neighbours, March runs about 3°C warmer than February and on par with April.

15°20°25°30°35°40°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13222
23222
33222
43222
53222
63222
73222
83223
93223
103323
113323
123323
133323
143323
153323
163323
173323
183323
193323
203423
213423
223423
233423
243424
253424
263424
273424
283424
293424
303424
313424

How March really feels in Anuradhapura

Once humidity and wind are folded in, March averages 31 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
31
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in March is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Anuradhapura weather by month

How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 2nd-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 22°731111.65.4
Feb30° / 22°508.111.75.0
Mar33° / 23°498.711.93.7
Apr33° / 25°12217.312.22.7
May33° / 25°8715.712.43.1
Jun32° / 25°3911.712.53.6
Jul32° / 25°4311.112.43.5
Aug32° / 25°5612.412.33.4
Sep32° / 25°7415123.2
Oct31° / 24°19921.511.83.1
Nov30° / 23°23423.111.63.5
Dec29° / 22°16317.711.54.5

Cloud cover in March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 40% of the time in March, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 22% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 37%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16040
26040
36139
46238
56238
66238
76337
86337
96436
106436
116436
126436
136535
146535
156535
166535
176535
186535
196535
206535
216535
226436
236337
246337
256337
266238
276139
286040
295941
305842
315743

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitation

Anuradhapura gets around 49 mm of rain over 8.7 wet days in March. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 29% and peaks near 43% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
126
226
327
427
527
628
728
828
928
1028
1128
1227
1327
1426
1526
1625
1725
1825
1925
2026
2126
2227
2328
2429
2530
2632
2734
2836
2938
3041
3143

Humidity in March

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of March feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, March lands in the oppressive band about 65% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 96% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
11634581
22634571
32534572
42534572
52534572
62434582
72434582
82434582
91434592
101434601
111434601
121333621
131333621
141333621
151332631
160331651
170330661
180329662
190329662
200327682
210326683
220325693
230224704
240223714
250222715
260221716
270219736
280118747
290116758
300115759
3101147510

Wind in March

Winds average 8 km/h in March.

Across March, daily wind ranges from about 7 km/h on the calmest days to 9 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
19calm
29calm
39calm
49calm
59calm
69calm
79calm
89calm
99calm
109calm
119calm
129calm
139calm
148calm
158calm
168calm
178calm
188calm
198calm
208calm
218calm
228calm
238calm
248calm
258calm
268calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

Sunrise & sunset in March

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 48 min at the start of March to 12 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 18 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 6:27 AM to 6:11 AM, and sunset from 6:16 PM to 6:15 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.86:276:16
211.86:266:16
311.86:266:17
411.96:256:17
511.96:256:17
611.96:256:17
711.96:246:17
811.96:246:17
911.96:236:17
1011.96:236:17
1111.96:226:17
1211.96:226:16
1311.96:216:16
1411.96:216:16
1511.96:206:16
1611.96:206:16
1712.06:196:16
1812.06:196:16
1912.06:186:16
2012.06:186:16
2112.06:176:16
2212.06:166:16
2312.06:166:16
2412.06:156:16
2512.06:156:16
2612.06:146:16
2712.06:146:15
2812.06:136:15
2912.06:136:15
3012.16:126:15
3112.16:116:15

Solar energy in March

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 6.2 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.8 kWh/m² to a high of 6.2 kWh/m² in March across the year — March's 6.2 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.9Bright
25.9Bright
35.9Bright
46.0Bright
56.0Bright
66.0Intense
76.0Intense
86.0Intense
96.1Intense
106.1Intense
116.1Intense
126.1Intense
136.2Intense
146.2Intense
156.2Intense
166.2Intense
176.2Intense
186.3Intense
196.3Intense
206.3Intense
216.3Intense
226.3Intense
236.3Intense
246.3Intense
256.3Intense
266.3Intense
276.3Intense
286.2Intense
296.2Intense
306.2Intense
316.1Intense
Planning a trip in March

Hazard calendar for Anuradhapura

In seasonPeak

None of Anuradhapura's seasonal hazards are active in March. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

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.

Cyclone
Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is March a good time to visit Anuradhapura?

Our two travel scores rate March for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

3.7
Sightseeing
4th-best month of the year
6.5
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

March is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Anuradhapura. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Anuradhapura in March

From March's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In March, Anuradhapura sees daytime highs around 33°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

light clothessun protectionrain gear

Sea temperature near Anuradhapura in March

The nearest coast averages about 29°C in March — 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.

26°28°30°32°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb28Warm
Mar29Tropical
Apr30Tropical
May30Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul28Tropical
Aug28Warm
Sep28Tropical
Oct28Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec28Warm

UV index in Anuradhapura in March

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 13 (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.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highApr 22UV 13Dec 21UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan10Very high
Feb12Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May13Extreme
Jun11Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep13Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec9Very high

Air quality in Anuradhapura in March

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where March 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).

010203040JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateApr 1830 µg/m³Jul 2319 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan23Moderate
Feb22Moderate
Mar27Moderate
Apr31Moderate
May28Moderate
Jun20Moderate
Jul19Moderate
Aug19Moderate
Sep20Moderate
Oct26Moderate
Nov27Moderate
Dec24Moderate
Location & terrain

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.

VavuniyaSigiriyaDambullaPuttalamPolonnaruwaKurunegalaTrincomaleeMannar

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.

3 km
35 m
16 km
317 m
80 km
1,165 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
March weather nearby: Vavuniya 50 km · Sigiriya 55 km · Dambulla 57 km · Puttalam 71 km · Polonnaruwa 77 km · Kurunegala 92 km · Trincomalee 94 km · Mannar 96 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
Buddhist 70%Hindu 13%Muslim 10%Roman Catholic 6%

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. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).