Polonnaruwa weather in July

In July, Polonnaruwa sees average daytime highs of 35°C and overnight lows near 26°C, with 26 mm of rain across 5.4 wet days and about 12.4 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 35°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 8% of the time in July, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 30 min at the start of July to 12 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, July is Polonnaruwa's 11th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Polonnaruwa's year-round climate.

Daytime high
35°
5th warmest
Overnight low
26°
11th coldest
Rainfall
26 mm
5.4 wet days
Daylight
12 h 24 min
5:59 AM – 6:24 PM
Cloud cover
79%
11th clearest
Wind
20 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
5.73 kWh/m²
Travel score
2.8
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 July

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 35°C through the month.

A typical July day in Polonnaruwa reaches about 35°C in the afternoon and slips back to 26°C overnight — a 8°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 33°C and 36°C. Set against its neighbours, July runs on par with June and on par with August.

25°30°35°40°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13526
23526
33526
43526
53526
63526
73526
83526
93526
103526
113526
123526
133526
143526
153526
163526
173526
183526
193526
203426
213426
223426
233426
243526
253526
263526
273526
283526
293526
303526
313526

How July really feels in Polonnaruwa

Once humidity and wind are folded in, July 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
18 feel dangerously hot (≥ 39°C)
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

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

Polonnaruwa weather by month

How July compares with the rest of the year at a glance. July is the 5th-warmest and 11th-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 July

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 8% of the time in July.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 12% of July, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 81%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12377
22377
32377
42377
52377
62377
72377
82278
92278
102179
112179
122080
132080
141981
151882
161882
171882
181783
191783
201783
211783
221783
231783
241783
251783
261783
271783
281882
291882
301882
311882

Chance of precipitation in July

Any precipitation

Polonnaruwa gets around 26 mm of rain over 5.4 wet days in July. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 17% and peaks near 19% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
114
214
315
415
516
616
717
817
917
1018
1118
1218
1318
1419
1518
1618
1718
1818
1918
2018
2117
2217
2317
2417
2517
2616
2716
2815
2915
3014
3114

Humidity in July

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, July lands in the oppressive band about 86% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1991
2991
3991
41090
51090
61090
71189
81189
91288
101288
111288
121387
131387
141387
151486
161486
171486
181486
191585
201585
211585
221684
231684
241783
251783
261882
271882
281981
291981
302080
312080

Wind in July

Winds average 20 km/h in July.

Across July, daily wind ranges from about 20 km/h on the calmest days to 21 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
121breezy
221breezy
321breezy
421breezy
521breezy
620breezy
720breezy
820breezy
920breezy
1020breezy
1120breezy
1220breezy
1320breezy
1420breezy
1520breezy
1620breezy
1720breezy
1820breezy
1920breezy
2020light breeze
2120breezy
2220breezy
2320breezy
2420breezy
2520breezy
2620breezy
2720breezy
2820breezy
2920breezy
3020breezy
3120breezy

Sunrise & sunset in July

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 30 min at the start of July to 12 h 24 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 6 minutes over July. Sunrise moves from 5:56 AM to 6:01 AM, and sunset from 6:23 PM to 6:23 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.55:566:23
212.55:566:23
312.55:566:23
412.55:566:23
512.55:576:24
612.45:576:24
712.45:576:24
812.45:576:24
912.45:576:24
1012.45:586:24
1112.45:586:24
1212.45:586:24
1312.45:586:24
1412.45:596:24
1512.45:596:24
1612.45:596:24
1712.45:596:24
1812.45:596:24
1912.46:006:24
2012.46:006:24
2112.46:006:24
2212.46:006:24
2312.46:006:24
2412.46:006:24
2512.46:016:24
2612.46:016:24
2712.46:016:23
2812.46:016:23
2912.46:016:23
3012.46:016:23
3112.46:016:23

Solar energy in July

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in July, about 5.73 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 — July's 5.73 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.8Bright
25.8Bright
35.8Bright
45.8Bright
55.8Bright
65.7Bright
75.7Bright
85.7Bright
95.7Bright
105.7Bright
115.7Bright
125.7Bright
135.7Bright
145.7Bright
155.7Bright
165.7Bright
175.7Bright
185.7Bright
195.7Bright
205.7Bright
215.7Bright
225.7Bright
235.7Bright
245.7Bright
255.7Bright
265.8Bright
275.8Bright
285.8Bright
295.8Bright
305.8Bright
315.8Bright
Planning a trip in July

Hazard calendar for Polonnaruwa

In seasonPeak

None of Polonnaruwa's seasonal hazards are active in July. 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 July a good time to visit Polonnaruwa?

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

2.8
Sightseeing
6th-best month of the year
5.9
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

July is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Polonnaruwa.

What to pack for Polonnaruwa in July

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

In July, Polonnaruwa sees daytime highs around 35°C and nights near 26°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: sun protection and a windbreaker. About 5 days see rain.

light clothessun protectiona windbreaker

Sea temperature near Polonnaruwa in July

The nearest coast averages about 29°C in July — 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 July

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in July peaks around 11 (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 July

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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