Seasons of the Year Seasons in the Maldives
Maldives are located near to equator so climate here have tropical monsoon type. Therefore there are no seasons in their usual sense. Just two shifts of amount of precipitation and direction of winds. From May to October prevails south-west monsoon which brings windy and rainy weather. Rest of the year is time of north-east monsoon with dry and sunny days.
Average annual temperature of rain and water in Maldives is about 28 °C (82 °F). Moreover the islands are lying outside of routs of devastating tropical cyclones so they are quite safe through whole year. Naturally precaution is necessary in tropical countries but in Maldives you most likely won’t be blown by strayed hurricane.
Seasons
Contents:
March-May in the Maldives
March is the best time for seaside vacations on Maldives. But at first decade there is probability of storms at atolls. April is the last chance to have flawless tropical vacation in Maldives. Amount of precipitation increases but for now it isn’t big concern. Temperature of air is about 31 °C (88 °F) and water is 28 °C to 30 °C (82-86 °F).
Rainy Season (May to December)
May marks transition between dry and rainy seasons. But there still plenty of tourists on the islands. This month is some sort of the Velvet Season. Weather at May is rather unpredictable. Possibility of rains and storms remains but most of precipitation falls at night. From May, the Southwest monsoon (“hulbangu”) begins and dominates the islands until November.
Climate from March to May
| March Max average t°: +31.5 °C (89 °F) Min average t°: +26.5 °C (80 °F) Water t°: +29.5 °C (85 °F) Sundial in the day: 7.5 hours Rainy days: 4 days Precipitation: 77 mm (3.0") |
| April Max average t°: +31.5 °C (89 °F) Min average t°: +27 °C (80 °F) Water t°: +30 °C (86 °F) Sundial in the day: 8 hours Rainy days: 5 days Precipitation: 69 mm (2.7") |
| May Max average t°: +31 °C (88 °F) Min average t°: +26 °C (79 °F) Water t°: +30 °C (86 °F) Sundial in the day: 7.5 hours Rainy days: 13 days Precipitation: 182 mm (7.2") |
(Male)
Holidays
Variable date at March – Eid al-Kebir (The Day of Sacrifice).
Variable date – Islamic New Year.
May 1 – Labour Day.
May 16 (dates to 2018) – First of Ramazan.
June-August in the Maldives
Weather at summer on Maldives is hot and influence of south-west monsoon makes it worst. It brings heavy tropical showers for 2-3 hours per day (mainly after noon and at night) and significant excitement of the sea which may escalate to storms. Divers and swimmers consider this period as the worst. But there is no thin without the addition and surfers of all kinds may have lots of fun taming those waves.
Air and water have almost equal temperatures. At night water even became warmer than air. In calm bays this circumstance makes great opportunity to swim under the moonlight. Humidity is pretty high but visitors marked that it is comfortable because of constant winds.
Climate from June to August
| June Max average t°: +30.5 °C (87 °F) Min average t°: +26 °C (79 °F) Water t°: +29 °C (84 °F) Sundial in the day: 7.5 hours Rainy days: 5 days Precipitation: 66 mm (2.6") |
| July Max average t°: +30.5 °C (87 °F) Min average t°: +26 °C (78 °F) Water t°: +29 °C (84 °F) Sundial in the day: 8 hours Rainy days: 7 days Precipitation: 87 mm (3.4") |
| August Max average t°: +30.5 °C (87 °F) Min average t°: +25.5 °C (78 °F) Water t°: +29 °C (84 °F) Sundial in the day: 8 hours Rainy days: 9 days Precipitation: 138 mm (5.4") |
(Male)
Holidays
June 4-5 - National holiday of the Republic of Maldives.
June 15 – Mulud (Milyad en Nabi, Birthday of the Prophet).
July 6-7 – National holiday dedicated to the expulsion of the Portuguese invaders in 1573.
July 26-27 – Independence Day.
August 20 – Hajj Day.
August 21 – Eid-ul Al'haa.
September-November in the Maldives
Tropical rainy season lasts through September as well. Waves are still significant so surfers are considering this month as the best time to visit Maldives. Beaches are dry back in couple after even hardest shower. Despite cloudiness it is easy to get scorched so relevant precautions are needed. At third decade of September sky becomes brighter and ocean calms down.
At October some rains remain but they mainly fall at night and daytime is sunny and calm. November marks second shift of winds and beginning of dry season. It doesn’t mean that there are no rains at all. Showers still occur but with significantly lesser frequency and intensity.
Climate from September to November
| September Max average t°: +30 °C (86 °F) Min average t°: +25 °C (77.5 °F) Water t°: +29 °C (84 °F) Sundial in the day: 8 hours Rainy days: 8 days Precipitation: 114 mm (4.5") |
| October Max average t°: +30 °C (86 °F) Min average t°: +25 °C (78 °F) Water t°: +29 °C (84 °F) Sundial in the day: 8 hours Rainy days: 11 days Precipitation: 154 mm (6.0") |
| November Max average t°: +30 °C (86 °F) Min average t°: +25 °C (77 °F) Water t°: +29 °C (84 °F) Sundial in the day: 7 hours Rainy days: 14 days Precipitation: 202 mm (8.0") |
(Male)
Holidays
September 11 (dates to 2018)– Islamic New Year.
November 3 – Victory Day.
November 9 – National Day.
November 11 – National Day Holiday.
November 20 – Prophet Muhammad's Birthday.
December-February in the Maldives)
In December, the Northeast Monsoon (Iruwai) arrives and affects the central and southern islands. Only at second half of third decade there may be minor excitement of the sea and slight drop of temperature. In general average temperature of air and water are same as at rest of the year.
Dry Season (January to April)
But by the beginning of January thing come back to previous almost perfect state. Those great days are holding up to last dates of February. From somewhere around February 27 risk of storms increases in anticipation of the approaching rainy season.
Climate from December to February
| December Max average t°: +30 °C (86 °F) Min average t°: +25.5 °C (78 °F) Water t°: +29 °C (84 °F) Sundial in the day: 7 hours Rainy days: 11 days Precipitation: 171 mm (6.7") |
| January Max average t°: +30 °C (86.5 °F) Min average t°: +26 °C (78 °F) Water t°: +28 °C (82 °F) Sundial in the day: 7.5 hours Rainy days: 4 days Precipitation: 59 mm (2.3") |
| February Max average t°: +30 °C (87 °F) Min average t°: +26 °C (79 °F) Water t°: +28.5 °C (83 °F) Sundial in the day: 7.5 hours Rainy days: 3 days Precipitation: 52 mm (2.1") |
(Male)
Holidays
December 9 – The Day Maldives Embraced Islam.
December 25-26 – Christmas.
January 1 – New Year.
