Polonnaruwa weather in February

In February, Polonnaruwa sees average daytime highs of 30°C and overnight lows near 22°C, with 73 mm of rain across 10.7 wet days and about 11.7 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 6th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 29°C in the first days to 31°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 22% of the time in February, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 42 min at the start of February to 11 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, February is Polonnaruwa's 3rd-clearest and 9th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Polonnaruwa's year-round climate.

Daytime high
30°
10th warmest
Overnight low
22°
2nd coldest
Rainfall
73 mm
10.7 wet days
Daylight
11 h 42 min
6:28 AM – 6:13 PM
Cloud cover
62%
3rd clearest
Wind
7 km/h
9th windiest
Solar energy
5.27 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.7
out of 10

Polonnaruwa is town in North Central Province, Sri Lanka.

Founded
1070

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

Temperature in February

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 29°C in the first days to 31°C by the end.

A typical February day in Polonnaruwa reaches about 30°C in the afternoon and slips back to 22°C overnight — a 8°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 28°C and 32°C. Set against its neighbours, February runs about 1°C warmer than January and about 3°C cooler than March.

15°20°25°30°35°151015202528
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12922
22922
32922
42922
52922
63022
73022
83022
93022
103022
113022
123022
133022
143022
153022
163022
173022
183022
193022
203122
213122
223122
233122
243122
253122
263122
273122
283122

How February really feels in Polonnaruwa

Once humidity and wind are folded in, February averages 28 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
28
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

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

Polonnaruwa weather by month

How February compares with the rest of the year at a glance. February is the 10th-warmest and 6th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 22°11014.311.64.8
Feb30° / 22°7310.711.74.7
Mar33° / 23°509.111.93.8
Apr34° / 25°9214.212.22.5
May35° / 26°679.312.42.5
Jun35° / 27°184.112.52.8
Jul35° / 26°265.412.42.8
Aug35° / 26°325.612.32.7
Sep35° / 26°538.2122.6
Oct33° / 25°18117.311.82.7
Nov30° / 23°23322.611.63.2
Dec29° / 23°20719.711.54.1

Cloud cover in February

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 22% of the time in February.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 25% of February, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 53%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202528
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13862
23961
33961
44060
54159
64258
74456
84555
94555
104555
114654
124753
134852
144852
154951
165050
175050
184951
195050
205050
215149
225149
235149
245248
255347
265347
275446
285446

Chance of precipitation in February

Any precipitation

Polonnaruwa gets around 73 mm of rain over 10.7 wet days in February. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 37% and peaks near 42% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202528
Rain chance (%)
142
242
342
442
542
642
742
841
941
1040
1139
1238
1337
1436
1536
1635
1734
1834
1934
2033
2133
2233
2333
2432
2532
2632
2732
2831

Humidity in February

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, February lands in the oppressive band about 72% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 99% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202528
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1129682
2128692
3127702
4127702
5126712
6125713
7125713
8124723
9124723
10123724
11123724
12123724
13123724
14122734
15122725
16122725
17122725
18121735
19121735
20121735
21121735
22121735
23121735
24121735
25121726
26121726
27120736
28120727

Wind in February

Winds average 7 km/h in February.

Across February, daily wind ranges from about 7 km/h on the calmest days to 8 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202528
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
18calm
28calm
38calm
48calm
58calm
68calm
78calm
88calm
98calm
108calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm

Sunrise & sunset in February

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 42 min at the start of February to 11 h 48 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 6 minutes over February. Sunrise moves from 6:30 AM to 6:25 AM, and sunset from 6:09 PM to 6:14 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202528
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.76:306:09
211.76:306:10
311.76:306:10
411.76:306:10
511.76:306:10
611.76:306:11
711.76:306:11
811.76:296:11
911.76:296:12
1011.76:296:12
1111.76:296:12
1211.76:296:12
1311.76:296:12
1411.76:296:13
1511.76:286:13
1611.76:286:13
1711.86:286:13
1811.86:286:13
1911.86:276:13
2011.86:276:14
2111.86:276:14
2211.86:276:14
2311.86:266:14
2411.86:266:14
2511.86:266:14
2611.86:256:14
2711.86:256:14
2811.86:256:14

Solar energy in February

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in February, about 5.27 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.83 kWh/m² to a high of 6.3 kWh/m² in March across the year — February's 5.27 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202528
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.8Bright
24.8Bright
34.8Bright
44.8Bright
54.9Bright
64.9Bright
75.0Bright
85.0Bright
95.0Bright
105.1Bright
115.1Bright
125.2Bright
135.2Bright
145.3Bright
155.3Bright
165.4Bright
175.4Bright
185.5Bright
195.5Bright
205.5Bright
215.6Bright
225.6Bright
235.7Bright
245.7Bright
255.7Bright
265.8Bright
275.8Bright
285.8Bright
Planning a trip in February

Hazard calendar for Polonnaruwa

In seasonPeak

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

Polonnaruwa sits in the North Indian Ocean cyclone zone; the season peaks May and October–November.

Polonnaruwa's monsoon runs October–January, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is February a good time to visit Polonnaruwa?

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

4.7
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
6.5
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

February is a reasonable time to visit Polonnaruwa for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Polonnaruwa in February

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

In February, Polonnaruwa sees daytime highs around 30°C and nights near 22°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 11 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Polonnaruwa in February

The nearest coast averages about 28°C in February — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 63 km away) is warmest in May 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
Jun30Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec28Warm

UV index in Polonnaruwa in February

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in February peaks 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 Polonnaruwa peaks around April 20 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 10 (very high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highApr 20UV 14Dec 19UV 10
UV index (midday)Level
Jan10Extreme
Feb12Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May14Extreme
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep13Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec10Very high

Air quality in Polonnaruwa in February

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where February falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Polonnaruwa is worst in May — around 28 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), and holds fairly steady the rest of the year.

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateMay 1028 µg/m³Jul 2120 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan22Moderate
Feb21Moderate
Mar24Moderate
Apr27Moderate
May28Moderate
Jun21Moderate
Jul20Moderate
Aug20Moderate
Sep21Moderate
Oct25Moderate
Nov24Moderate
Dec22Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Polonnaruwa?

Polonnaruwa sits at 7.9°N, 81.0°E, 0 m above sea level, in Sri Lanka. The nearest listed city is Sigiriya, 28 km away.

SigiriyaDambullaVakaraiMataleEravur TownTrincomaleeAnuradhapuraBatticaloa

Topography around Polonnaruwa

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Polonnaruwa.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Polonnaruwa has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 38 m around an average of 57 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 297 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,871 m.

The land around Polonnaruwa is covered by trees (48%) and cropland (20%) within 3 km, trees (58%) and cropland (29%) within 16 km, and trees (60%) within 80 km.

3 km
38 m
16 km
297 m
80 km
1,871 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
February weather nearby: Sigiriya 28 km · Dambulla 40 km · Vakarai 52 km · Matale 67 km · Eravur Town 69 km · Trincomalee 75 km · Anuradhapura 77 km · Batticaloa 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
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 Polonnaruwa (7.9397°, 81.0027°, elevation 0 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).