Your October weather guide
HotWeather in Galle in October
Galle in October suits travellers who want warmth and can accept a very wet holiday, rather than those counting on sunshine. Daytime highs average 28°C, but rain falls on about 28 days and sunshine averages just 2.1 hours daily. For a UK traveller, the appeal is warm air and a warm sea; the catch is how much the rain may shape your plans. Go with flexibility, not a schedule built around dry beach days.
Long-term climate averages for Galle (south-west coast), not a forecast · 1991-2020
Galle, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Galle (south-west coast).
- Average daytime high
- 28.0°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 29°C
- Average night-time low
- 24.6°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 24°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +13.4°C
- London averages 14.6°C in October
- Sea temperature
- 28.2°C
- year to year: 28°C to 29°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 2.1h
- 18% of 11.9 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 28
- 333 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 86%
- Days over 25°C
- 100%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 29.9°C
- 2019-10-27
- Record low 1991-2020
- 22.8°C
- 2019-10-01
- Flight from London
- ≈ 11 h 48 min
- 8815 km, long-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How October compares
October is the 9th warmest month of the year in Galle and ranks 34th of 134 destinations we compare for October - see where else is hot in October. Against London's average high of 14.6°C in October, Galle is 13.4°C warmer by day and 16.2°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in October
The typical October day in Galle peaks at 28.0°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 28.9°C or more. About 100% of days top 25°C. Nights average 24.6°C; one night in ten drops to 23.9°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest October day here reached 29.9°C (2019-10-27) and the coldest night 22.8°C (2019-10-01).
Rain in October
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 28 days with 1 mm or more, 333 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest October was 2015 with 568 mm, the driest 2020 with 137 mm. Humidity averages 86%, which makes the heat feel heavier than the thermometer suggests.
Sea temperature in October
The sea averages 28.2°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 27.7°C to 29.0°C. For the warmest sea here, come in April (29.5°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 2.1 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.9 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 05:55 and sets about 17:55 local time in mid-October. Average cloud cover is 82%.
Is October a good time to visit Galle?
It is a reasonable choice: hot days but expect showers. The best months for Galle on our scoring are March, February, January; months averaging 25°C or more: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.
Warm enough for swimming, humid enough to feel sticky
The heat is steady rather than extreme: days typically reach 28°C, while nights average 24.6°C, so evenings offer little cooling. Humidity of 86% makes light, loose clothing more useful than heavy layers, and accommodation with effective cooling is a sensible priority. Keep daytime plans unhurried and allow breaks if you find sticky conditions tiring. The sea averages 28.2°C, comfortably warm enough for swimming without a cold-water shock. That makes October appealing if water temperature matters more to you than blue skies. Warm water does not, however, tell you whether conditions are safe for a swim; check local advice before entering. Pack mainly for heat, with clothes that dry readily after rain.
Plan around rain, not guaranteed sunny spells
With about 28 rainy days and 333 mm of rain across the month, wet weather is a central part of the decision, not a minor packing detail. The figures do not mean it rains continuously, but they leave little basis for expecting reliably dry days. Sunshine averages 2.1 hours out of 11.9 hours of daylight, so daylight should not be confused with clear skies. Keep outdoor plans movable, carry a lightweight waterproof and protect anything that needs to stay dry. Avoid assuming the morning or afternoon will reliably be better. October is a reasonable choice if warmth is enough and you can change plans; it is a poor fit if sustained sunshine is the main reason for travelling.
A little perspective
Galle through the year
October is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Januarybest | 28.4°C | 23.6°C | 27.7°C | 3.9 | 116 | 17 | 100% |
| Februarybest | 29.2°C | 23.9°C | 28.1°C | 4.7 | 100 | 15 | 100% |
| Marchbest | 29.8°C | 24.7°C | 29.0°C | 5.1 | 116 | 20 | 100% |
| April | 29.4°C | 25.4°C | 29.5°C | 3.5 | 226 | 27 | 100% |
| May | 28.7°C | 25.6°C | 28.9°C | 2.1 | 305 | 30 | 100% |
| June | 28.3°C | 25.4°C | 28.0°C | 1.8 | 268 | 29 | 100% |
| July | 27.9°C | 25.1°C | 27.4°C | 1.8 | 244 | 30 | 100% |
| August | 27.8°C | 24.9°C | 27.4°C | 1.9 | 244 | 30 | 100% |
| September | 27.8°C | 24.8°C | 27.9°C | 2.0 | 275 | 28 | 100% |
| OctoberSelected | 28.0°C | 24.6°C | 28.2°C | 2.1 | 333 | 28 | 100% |
| November | 28.1°C | 24.3°C | 28.7°C | 2.2 | 363 | 26 | 100% |
| December | 28.2°C | 23.9°C | 28.2°C | 3.0 | 221 | 22 | 100% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in October
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
India · 28°C by day · sea 28°C
Kerala
Costa Rica · 28°C by day · sea 28°C
Guanacaste
Thailand · 28°C by day · sea 29°C
Phuket
Thailand · 28°C by day · sea 29°C
Koh Samui
Vietnam · 28°C by day · sea 29°C
Phu Quoc
A little more detail
Galle in October FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Galle hot in October?
Galle is hot in October: the average daytime high is 28.0°C and nights average 24.6°C. About 100% of October days reach 25°C or more.
Can you swim in the sea in Galle in October?
The sea around Galle averages 28.2°C in October, which is warm enough for most people to swim comfortably. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 28°C to 29°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Galle in October?
Galle sees about 28 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 333 mm of rain in a typical October. The wettest October between 1991 and 2020 was 2015 (568 mm) and the driest was 2020 (137 mm).
How sunny is Galle in October?
Galle gets around 2.1 hours of sunshine a day in October out of 11.9 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Galle compare with the UK in October?
Galle is on average 13.4°C warmer than London by day in October (28.0°C against 14.6°C).
What is the hottest October on record in Galle?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest October day in Galle reached 29.9°C on 2019-10-27, and the coldest night dropped to 22.8°C on 2019-10-01.
How much warmer is Galle than London in October?
Galle's average daytime high is 28°C, compared with London's 14.6°C - a difference of 13.4°C. You can pack for substantially warmer weather, including warm evenings, but the humidity and frequent rain mean this is not simply a sunnier version of a UK autumn.
Would another month be a better choice?
March, February and January are the strongest months overall for Galle's holiday weather. If your dates are flexible and weather is the deciding factor, consider those before October. October's warmth is dependable, but its wet conditions and limited sunshine are substantial compromises.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Galle (Galle (south-west coast)). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2.8 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C