Anuradhapura in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Anuradhapura sees average daytime highs around 29°C and overnight lows near 22°C, with 285 mm of rain over about 37 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the 2nd-wettest season.
Over the season highs climb from about 29°C in early December to 31°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 20% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Winter is Anuradhapura's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Anuradhapura's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 29°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 22°C
- Rainfall
- 285 mm
- 37 wet days
- Avg wind
- 10 km/h
- Travel score
- 5.0
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Anuradhapura in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 29°C in early December to 31°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Anuradhapura reaches about 29°C and drops to 22°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Anuradhapura
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 23 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in winter is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Anuradhapura weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) 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 Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 20% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Anuradhapura gets around 285 mm of rain over 37 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 10 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 36 min in early December to 11 h 48 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 4.5 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Anuradhapura
In winter, 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 winter a good time to visit Anuradhapura?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a reasonable time to visit Anuradhapura for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Anuradhapura in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Anuradhapura sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 22°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 37 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Anuradhapura in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 28°C across winter — 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 Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 10 (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 Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter 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.