On planning a holiday, many tourists research the weather of a certain region to ascertain if they will be going at the best time. While the Maldives does have a variation in its weather and climate, whenever you go, it will be hard to miss the spectacular beauty of the location and enjoy your vacation in this tropical paradise.
Temperatures
The Maldives is warm throughout the year with only a slight variation in the cooler months. You can expect the maximum temperatures to hover around an average of about 28 or 29 degrees Celsius, rising to the early 30s in the summer months. November is the month with the lowest average – a balmy 24C guarantees that whichever month of the year you plan on visiting; you can leave the winter woollies behind and be sure that summer clothes and sunblock will be more the order of the day. December and January are only a degree higher, so this certain is the ideal location to leave the northern hemisphere winter behind and seek out the sunshine of the Maldives.
The hottest months of the year are March, April and May where the temperature rises to 30 or 31C. In general, the hottest month of the year is considered March. The coldest month is January.
There are two well defined seasons in the Maldives:
The Dry Season
This runs from November through to April. It is known as the north-east monsoon season. It is defined by 8 hours of sunshine a day and water temperatures of about 25C. The maximum day time temperature is around 29C, it is less humid and the water is calmer, with the wind not so strong. Being the dry season does not mean there is no rain. There are fewer rainy days at this time of the year than the rest of the year. With the dry season being during the main holiday season, many tourists flock to the Maldives at this time of the year. February and March are driest months of the year with an average of only 3 to 4 cm of rain.
The Wet Season
This is the main wet or rainy season in the Maldives. It is also known as the south-west monsoon. From May to October you can expect temperatures of between 27C & 33C. Humidity rises and so does the amount of rainfall. The wettest months of the year are usually June and August. These months can be windy and stormy. The islands receive about 200mm of rain each month during the wet season.
Many resorts offer special offers during the wet season. It is common for storms to pass over quite quickly leaving part of the day sunny and fine. The islands remain warm with plenty of sunshine.
As there is no way of predicting the weather, the best way forward, is to book your Maldives vacation at a time that suits you and go and enjoy it.