Mirissa

Sri Lanka Weather in October

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in October.

Thinking about venturing to Sri Lanka this October and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in Sri Lanka in October

October in Sri Lanka generally has temperatures that range from warm to very warm, with precipitation levels ranging from high to heavy.

Temperatures

Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is warm in Ramboda at 26°C (79°F) to very warm in Polonnaruwa at 34°C (93°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 25°C (77°F) in Polonnaruwa and 19°C (66°F) in Ramboda.

To explore the conditions in Sri Lanka in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In October, precipitation varies across different areas. From high rainfall in Yala with an average of 151 mm (5.9 in) to heavy rainfall in Adams Peak with 506 mm (20 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is fairly consistent across many areas. Kandy receives about 119 hours of sunlight in October, providing a good balance between sunny spells and cloud cover. If you're after more sunshine hours, take a look at our weather planner for other sun-rich destinations worldwide.

Explore Sri Lanka by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Sri Lanka - and find the best time to visit. (based on Kandy)

Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka in October

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Sri Lanka.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Sri Lanka

What is the weather like in October for some of the most popular destinations in Sri Lanka?

Temperature range in Sri Lanka (October)

Precipitation variation in Sri Lanka (October)

Kandy

In October Kandy generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 21°C (70°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
28°C (82°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
21°C (70°F)
21°C (70°F)
20°C (68°F)
Monthly sun hours
87 hours
119 hours
125 hours
Monthly rainfall
132 mm (5.2 in)
305 mm (12 in)
322 mm (13 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
16 days
16 days
Weather conditions

Hikkaduwa

In October Hikkaduwa generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
180 hours
200 hours
210 hours
Monthly rainfall
278 mm (11 in)
307 mm (12 in)
290 mm (11 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
14 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Negombo

In October Negombo generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
189 hours
202 hours
210 hours
Monthly rainfall
245 mm (9.6 in)
338 mm (13 in)
294 mm (12 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
15 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Mirissa

In October Mirissa generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
180 hours
200 hours
210 hours
Monthly rainfall
225 mm (8.9 in)
260 mm (10 in)
283 mm (11 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
13 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Nuwara Eliya

In October Nuwara Eliya generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 27°C (81°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 19°C (66°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
27°C (81°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
20°C (68°F)
19°C (66°F)
19°C (66°F)
Monthly sun hours
87 hours
119 hours
125 hours
Monthly rainfall
166 mm (6.5 in)
292 mm (11 in)
298 mm (12 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
16 days
16 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Sri Lanka.

Popular cities in October

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Sri Lanka in October.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Kandy 28°C (82°F) 21°C (70°F) 305 mm (12 in)
Colombo 30°C (86°F) 25°C (77°F) 355 mm (14 in)
Hikkaduwa 29°C (84°F) 25°C (77°F) 307 mm (12 in)
Negombo 30°C (86°F) 25°C (77°F) 338 mm (13 in)
Nuwara Eliya 27°C (81°F) 19°C (66°F) 292 mm (11 in)
Anuradhapura 33°C (91°F) 24°C (75°F) 196 mm (7.7 in)

Sri Lanka weather in October: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Sri Lanka in October?

October in Sri Lanka brings less favorable weather. In Kandy, daytime temperatures are typically around 28°C (82°F) and nighttime lows hover near 21°C (70°F).

What is the average temperature in Sri Lanka in October?

In Kandy, the average daytime high in October is 28°C (82°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 21°C (70°F).

Does Sri Lanka get a lot of rain in October?

Rainfall in Sri Lanka peaks during October. Kandy averages roughly 305 mm (12 in), so frequent and sometimes heavy showers are the norm.

Is October a Good Time to Visit Sri Lanka?

Given the typically less favorable weather conditions in Kandy, October may not be the ideal time to visit Sri Lanka.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in February offering mostly excellent weather in Kandy. On the other hand, the months of April, October and November tend to have less favorable weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Sri Lanka.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Sri Lanka? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Sri Lanka.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.