Maldives holiday weather

Maldives weather averages and climate

Located near the equator, the Maldives enjoy a tropical climate this is consistently hot and often humid all year round, but with distinct wet and dry seasons.  Between December and April rainfall amounts are at their lowest, accompanied with the longest hours of sunshine. A change in the wind direction in May brings South West monsoon rains that can last through until November. The monsoonal seasons have the greatest influence in the north of the country.

Average daily max (°C)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
30.6	31.1	31.6	31.9	31.6	31.2	30.8	30.8	30.5	30.6	30.4	30.4	31.0

Average relative humidity (%)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
76	75	76	77	80	78	78	78	79	79	79	79	78

Average rainfall (mm)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
83	35	66	113	202	120	182	214	211	226	196	218	1856

Average daily sunshine (hrs)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
8	9	9	8	7	7	8	7	7	8	8	7	8

Average wind speed (mph)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
12.4	10.6	7.8	7.8	12.2	11.6	10.8	10.5	10.8	10.9	8.5	10.5	10.4

 

When is the best time to visit the Maldives?

The most popular time of year to visit is between December and April when rainfall amounts are lower along with longest hours of sunshine. The summer months see a greater risk of storms, though decent spells of hot sunshine are still possible. 

Spring

Some of the hottest temperatures of the year can be seen from March through to May, reaching into the low 30s Celsius consistently. Rain showers offer bursts of relief from the heat, but generally conditions are dry with plenty of sunshine. During late April and Into May the showers begin to ramp up as the South West monsoon season starts, with a greater risk of stormy conditions.

Summer

Between June and August you are well into the wet season in the Maldives, but visitors can still expect high temperatures and humidity. Conditions are very changeable - some days are idyllic with a persistent breeze giving relief from the sun - however there is a risk of storms too, with sharp heavy downpours and strong winds. Usually these rains last for only a few hours, but at other times they can continue for several days. Despite this temperatures continue to reach highs into the low 30s Celsius.

Autumn

Autumn is often the wettest time of year to visit the Maldives, with the South West monsoon continuing. That’s not to say there aren’t any decent sunny periods as well, and it is still consistently hot. Between October and November the winds switch round to the North East, bringing an end to the stormy season and the start of much drier conditions.

Winter

From December it is largely hot and dry, with temperatures reaching the lows 30s, though the odd shower is possible. There is almost always plenty of sunshine, and so this is considered the peak time of year for visitors.

When is the wet season in the Maldives?

The wet season is associated with the South West monsoon that usually lasts begins between April and May and lasts until October or November. During the wet season you are most likely to see stormy conditions, which sometimes last for several days, but plenty dry and sunny periods still occur.

Maldives tourist information

One of the main reasons tourists flock to the Maldives is due to the warm and tropical climate that offers superb winter sun. Main attractions include the excellent beaches, resorts and vibrant underwater wildlife.

After gaining independence from Britain in 1965, tourism started to develop on the islands in the early 1970s when the first two resorts opened. Over the following decades the tourism industry continued to expand, now with more than 100 operational resorts and over 1 million visitors a year. Due to the geography of the country, most resorts have exclusive use of an entire island, typically complete with an encircling beach and their own reef serving as a natural aquarium and protected swimming pool.

The Maldives are known for their natural environment, with the climate ideal for visitors to take part in water sports such as water-skiing, snorkelling, scuba diving and wind surfing. The diving is some of the best for recreation in the entire world, with extensive underwater scenery and clean water. Only around 200 of the 1109 coral atolls are currently inhabited, and tourists are attracted by the possibility of visiting areas of untouched nature.