Maldives weather by month

When you read the weather information gathered down below, you'll notice that the weather within the Maldives tends to be nearly identical throughout, with the month not really meaning much. The days in this region tend to be on the warm side and at least, what most would consider, somewhat humid. The nights here are known for being both reasonably warm and a bit on the balmy side.

Unlike most of other tropical destinations, the Maldives is unique in that it has two different “monsoon seasons” each year. Thankfully, neither season is known for any dramatic weather or flooding, so the differences are subtle. Even during what we would consider the non-monsoon seasons, you'll still note some infrequent rainfall, so the overall consistency is what is most striking for the potential visitor. With this said, the best times to visit the Maldives really depends on your goals, as the entire year is a good time if you can make it out there.

Maldives monthly temperature averages and rainfall

January

High: 30°C/86°F
Low: 25°C/77°F
Rain: 76mm/3″

February

High: 30°C/86°F
Low: 26°C/78°F
Rain: 51mm/2″

March

High: 31°C/88°F
Low: 26°C/78°F
Rain: 74mm/2.9″

April

High: 31°C/88°F
Low: 26°C/79°F
Rain: 132mm/5.2″

May

High: 31°C/87°F
Low: 26°C/79°F
Rain: 216mm/8.5″

June

High: 30°C/86°F
Low: 26°C/78°F
Rain: 173mm/6.8″

July

High: 30°C/86°F
Low: 26°C/78°F
Rain: 147mm/5.8″

August

High: 30°C/86°F
Low: 25°C/77°F
Rain: 188mm/7.4″

September

High: 30°C/86°F
Low: 25°C/77°F
Rain: 244mm/9.6″

October

High: 30°C/86°F
Low: 25°C/77°F
Rain: 221mm/8.7″

November

High: 30°C/86°F
Low: 25°C/77°F
Rain: 201mm/7.9″

December

High: 29°C/85°F
Low: 25°C/77°F
Rain: 231mm/9.1″

Dry season and wet season

The dry season generally lasts from mid December and into early May, but the beginning and ending times do change a little bit year to year. The Northeast Monsoon season occurs between November and March, but of course most of this is during “dry season” and due to this, it’s no surprise that the monsoon rarely amounts to anything more than a quick downpour a couple times a week.

The rainy season here is from early May and into mid December, with the Southwest Monsoon season officially serving as the months of July and August. Again, the rainfall totals don’t vary much at all, and the chances of a major storm are slim to none. Because the Maldives water villas are all built very well and specifically to comfortably handle normal conditions in the area, you shouldn’t worry about any storm dangers.

Olhuveli Resort Maldives

Cloudbursts and sunshine

Typical of tropical areas, when it rains in the Maldives it tends to come down very heavy for a short amount of time before clearing up just as quickly as it came. Even during the “dry season” it’s not uncommon for the day to start with a sunny sky and then turn quickly with thick clouds that roll in sometime in the afternoon, with 30 minutes of heavy showers after that, and then a clear evening that matches the morning.

During the rainy season it tends to rain a little more during the night, which means that the actual daytime rain that visitors see is more consistent than it first appears. You’ll find that during the rainy season it’s rare to have more than a few cloudy days each and every week, so it would be very bad luck to see a lot of gray during an average visit.

Humidity

It’s relatively humid all year long in the Maldives, and those coming from a colder climate may feel slightly uncomfortable during the first couple of days, but nearly everyone enjoys that special tropical feeling after that. Also, the temperature never strays much above the averages, so even the high humidity is never unbearable like it can be in Mediterranean Europe.

Winds

Because the Maldives is strung throughout a large portion of the Indian Ocean, there will be steady winds crossing through your overwater resort at pretty much at all times. The wind can and likes to change direction, but it’s almost never really still. This means that even on hot days you’ll still be cooled down by a tropical breeze.

This steady breeze is yet another reason to choose a water villa instead of a beach villa. This is because most of the overwater villas located here have private terraces on two or more edges, which means you’ll always have access to the breeze if you like, something not always true of the island rooms that are sheltered with palm trees and other buildings.

Source: Weather.com

Top photo courtesy of thadu83 on Flickr