Maldives weather by month

As you'll see by the chart down below, the weather within the Maldives tends to be nearly identical throughout, regardless of the month. The days tend to be quite warm and at least somewhat humid. The nights are known for being reasonably warm and a bit balmy.

Unlike most other tropical destinations, the Maldives is unique in that it has two different “monsoon” periods each year. Luckily, neither are known for any dramatic weather or flooding, so the differences are rather subtle. Even during what we would consider the non-monsoon periods, there will be some infrequent rainfall, so the overall consistency is what is most striking for the potential visitor. The best times to visit the Maldives really depends on your goals. With that said, honestly 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 in the Maldives typically lasts from mid December through and into early May, but the beginning and ending times do change some from year to year. The Northeast Monsoon season actually 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 that occurs a couple times a week.

The rainy season in the Maldives runs from early May through and into mid December, with the Southwest Monsoon season officially being both the months of July and August. Again, the rainfall totals don’t actually vary much at all, and the chances of a major storm are almost zero. The Maldives water villas are all built very well and specifically to comfortably handle normal conditions in the area, so you shouldn’t worry about any storm dangers.

Olhuveli Resort Maldives

Cloudbursts and sunshine

Typical of the tropics, when it rains in the Maldives it tends to come down heavily for a short time and then clear up just as quickly as it came. Even during the “dry season” it’s not uncommon for the day to start with a sunny morning and then turn with thick clouds that roll in, generally speaking, 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 even more consistent than it first appears. Even during the rainy season it’s rare to have more than a few cloudy days each week, so it would be very bad luck to see a lot of gray during an average visit.

Humidity

It will be relatively humid all year in the Maldives, and those coming from a cold climate may feel slightly uncomfortable during the first day or two, but nearly everyone enjoys that special tropical feeling after that. Also, the temperature itself 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 through a large portion of the beautiful Indian Ocean, there will be steady winds crossing through your overwater resort pretty much at all times. The wind can and will change direction, but it’s almost never 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 if you’re able to. 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