Situated close to the Equator, the weather in Maldives is warm, sunny, and tropical. With long summer days of roughly eight hours sunshine, the islands are a must-visit for any beach lover.
Between November and April, the average temperature will fall anywhere between 23 and 31 degrees celcius, with over 200 hours of sunshine each month. Expect around 30 degrees at the day’s peak, with slightly cooler evenings which cool the islands for the next day. Rain is uncommon, with slightly over 2000 mm each year. On those rare occasions, usually from May to November, visitors can expect tropical, quite warm showers which revitalize the local flora and bring waves for water sports.
Due to the islands’ low-lying terrain and the surrounding Indian ocean, weather in Maldives is fairly humid most months of the year – between 75% and 80%. Nonetheless, the natural air flow from the sea counters some of this and makes for a balmy, easy climate.
The Maldive archipelago has two annual seasonal changes: the first is between December and April when winds from the Northeast bring dry winter monsoons for the coral islands. The second takes place between May and November when wetter Southwest storms and winds are more likely. Respectively, these two are Iruvaa (the dry season), and Hulhangu – the rainier season. Regardless of these seasonal changes, visitors can expect the weather in Maldives to be pleasantly warm.
The best time to visit depends on your holiday plans – the whole year can easily be described as tropical, with the gentlest weather during the dry season from December to March. If and when the weather does take a turn, storms tend to be short and have plenty of waves for surfers to enjoy.