Vavuniya weather in March

In March, Vavuniya sees average daytime highs of 33°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 44 mm of rain across 7.3 wet days and about 11.9 hours of daylight. It is the 7th-warmest and 11th-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 44% 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 Vavuniya's 1st-clearest and 10th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Vavuniya's year-round climate.

Daytime high
33°
7th warmest
Overnight low
23°
4th coldest
Rainfall
44 mm
7.3 wet days
Daylight
11 h 54 min
6:19 AM – 6:16 PM
Cloud cover
47%
1st clearest
Wind
8 km/h
10th windiest
Solar energy
6.24 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.6
out of 10

Vavuniya is human settlement.

Density
2,674/km²
people per km²

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 Vavuniya 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 36°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
73322
83323
93323
103323
113323
123323
133323
143323
153323
163423
173423
183423
193423
203423
213423
223424
233424
243424
253424
263424
273424
283424
293424
303424
313424

How March really feels in Vavuniya

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
6 feel dangerously hot (≥ 39°C)
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.

Vavuniya weather by month

How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 7th-warmest and 11th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 22°6910.211.55.4
Feb31° / 22°457.511.75.0
Mar33° / 23°447.311.93.6
Apr34° / 25°10215.212.22.6
May34° / 26°7512.412.42.8
Jun34° / 26°297.212.53.0
Jul34° / 26°458.612.52.9
Aug34° / 26°5810.312.32.9
Sep34° / 25°7211.612.12.9
Oct32° / 24°18920.211.83.0
Nov30° / 23°23422.911.63.5
Dec29° / 23°16318.311.54.5

Cloud cover in March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 44% of the time in March, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 21% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 35%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16238
26238
36238
46238
56238
66337
76337
86436
96436
106535
116535
126634
136634
146733
156733
166733
176733
186733
196832
206832
216733
226733
236733
246733
256634
266634
276535
286436
296337
306139
316139

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitation

Vavuniya gets around 44 mm of rain over 7.3 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 25% and peaks near 36% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
122
223
323
424
524
624
725
825
925
1025
1125
1224
1324
1423
1523
1622
1722
1822
1921
2021
2121
2222
2323
2423
2525
2626
2728
2830
2932
3034
3136

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 64% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 97% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
11534573
21534573
31534573
41433584
51433584
61433584
71432585
81332595
91332595
101332595
111331605
121331605
131331605
141330615
151330615
160329635
170328645
180228655
190227665
200226675
210224686
220223696
230222697
240221698
250120709
2601197010
2701177111
2801167112
2901147114
3000137215
3100127117

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
138calm
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
311.86:266:16
411.86:256:16
511.96:256:16
611.96:246:16
711.96:246:16
811.96:246:16
911.96:236:16
1011.96:236:16
1111.96:226:16
1211.96:226:16
1311.96:216:16
1411.96:216:16
1511.96:206:16
1611.96:196:16
1711.96:196:16
1812.06:186:16
1912.06:186:16
2012.06:176:16
2112.06:176:16
2212.06:166:16
2312.06:166:15
2412.06:156:15
2512.06:146:15
2612.06:146:15
2712.06:136:15
2812.06:136:15
2912.06:126:15
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 6.24 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.84 kWh/m² to a high of 6.24 kWh/m² in March across the year — March's 6.24 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.9Bright
26.0Bright
36.0Bright
46.0Bright
56.0Intense
66.0Intense
76.0Intense
86.1Intense
96.1Intense
106.1Intense
116.1Intense
126.2Intense
136.2Intense
146.2Intense
156.2Intense
166.3Intense
176.3Intense
186.3Intense
196.3Intense
206.3Intense
216.3Intense
226.3Intense
236.3Intense
246.3Intense
256.3Intense
266.3Intense
276.3Intense
286.3Intense
296.3Intense
306.2Intense
316.2Intense
Planning a trip in March

Hazard calendar for Vavuniya

In seasonPeak

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

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

Vavuniya'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 Vavuniya?

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

3.6
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 Vavuniya. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Vavuniya in March

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

In March, Vavuniya sees daytime highs around 33°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. About 7 days see rain.

light clothessun protection

Sea temperature near Vavuniya 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 58 km away) is warmest in April at about 31°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
Apr31Tropical
May30Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug28Tropical
Sep28Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec27Warm

UV index in Vavuniya in March

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in March 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 Vavuniya peaks around May 10 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 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 highMay 10UV 13Dec 22UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan9Very high
Feb12Extreme
Mar12Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May14Extreme
Jun11Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec9Very high

Air quality in Vavuniya 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 Vavuniya is worst in May — around 24 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), and holds fairly steady the rest of the year.

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateMay 1323 µg/m³Sep 1516 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan20Moderate
Feb19Moderate
Mar21Moderate
Apr22Moderate
May24Moderate
Jun18Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep16Moderate
Oct18Moderate
Nov18Moderate
Dec19Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Vavuniya?

Vavuniya sits at 8.8°N, 80.5°E, 104 m above sea level, in Sri Lanka. The nearest listed city is Anuradhapura, 50 km away.

AnuradhapuraMullaittivuMannarTrincomaleeSigiriyaDambullaPolonnaruwaPuttalam

Topography around Vavuniya

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Vavuniya has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 29 m around an average of 96 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 169 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 732 m.

The land around Vavuniya is covered by trees (58%) within 3 km, trees (64%) within 16 km, and trees (61%) within 80 km.

3 km
29 m
16 km
169 m
80 km
732 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
March weather nearby: Anuradhapura 50 km · Mullaittivu 67 km · Mannar 73 km · Trincomalee 83 km · Sigiriya 93 km · Dambulla 101 km · Polonnaruwa 106 km · Puttalam 108 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 Vavuniya (8.7514°, 80.4971°, elevation 104 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).