CLIMATE OF THE MALDIVES

precipitation on different Maldives islands in different years, from Science Direct

Extending about from about 163 kilometers (100 miles) south of the equator to 650 kilometers (400 miles) north of it, the Maldives has a warm, humid, tropical climate year round. The temperatures vary little from season to season, with highs between averaging between 30.4̊C, to 33̊C) (85̊ and 90̊F) and humidity averaging 80 percent. The nights can be a little humid and hot (lows around 25̊C or 75̊F or), so it is a good idea to get a hotel with air conditioning. It is particularly hot in the middle of the day. Ocean breezes cool the weather somewhat.

The climate of the Maldives is influenced by two monsoons: the dry northeast monsoon (November to March) and the rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August). The wet monsoon is are milder and less defined than the one in India and other Asian countries. The northeast monsoon from November to March or April is characterized by dry weather, lower humidity and little wind.

Weather is keenly observed. There is a fishing season. Storms are rare. The relative humidity is around 80 percent. The average temperature in January is 27°C (81°F) and the average temperature in July is 27°C (81°F)

The temperature of Maldives ranges between 24°C and 33°C (75 and 91.5 °F) throughout the year. Constant sea breezes help to keep the air moving. The Maldives receives about 200 centimeters (79 inches) of rain and has 2,500 hours of sun annually. The sun can be very strong during the middle of the day so bring lots of sun screen. The Maldives are located south of the cyclone belts which means that usually is spared fierce storms that cause so much devastation further north.

Monsoons and Storms in the Maldives Lanka

The climate of Sri Lanka is as we said above is affected by two tropical monsoons: 1) the dry northeast monsoon (December to March) and 2) the wet southwest monsoon (June to October).
The southwest monsoon is somewhat irregular. There is an inter-monsoon period in October and November.

Every year beginning in June, powerful monsoon winds from the southwest blow steadily off the Indian Ocean. The winds dump torrents of rain on some parts of the Maldives while other alone. During the monsoons, rains tend to fall in short afternoon downpours. The weather patterns are not always consistent. Sometimes it rains when it is supposed to be dry and is dry when it is supposed to rain. There have been droughts and having enough freshwater — of which rain is a primary source — is a serious concer.

The southwest monsoon can last From May or June to August, September or October. It brings rain and wind. Most of the rain is dropped in powerful but brief thunderstorms which means that even during the rainy season the weather is mostly sunny. The rains and winds however stir up the water lowering the water visibility — a concern for divers and snorkelers.

The southwestern monsoon in the Maldives more less coincides with the monsoons in India and Sri Lanka and the rainy seasons in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. The Maldives is generally not hit by the cyclones that ravage India and Bangladesh. The cyclone season is from June to October. Most cyclones hit the Bay of Bengal between Bangladesh and the east coast of India.

How the Monsoons Form and Behave in the Maldives

The weather in Maldives is affected by the large landmass of the Indian subcontinent to the north. The presence of this landmass causes differential heating of land and water. Scientists also cite other factors in the formation of monsoons, including the barrier of the Himalayas on the northern fringe of the Indian subcontinent and the sun's northward tilt, which shifts the jet stream north. [Source: Helen Chapin Metz, Library of Congress, 1994 *]

These factors set off a rush of moisture-rich air from the Indian Ocean over the subcontinent, resulting in the southwest monsoon. The hot air that rises over the subcontinent during April and May creates low-pressure areas into which the cooler, moisture-bearing winds from the Indian Ocean flow. In Maldives, the wet southwest monsoon lasts from the end of April to the end of October and brings the worst weather with strong winds and storms. In May 1991 violent monsoon winds created tidal waves that damaged thousands of houses and piers, flooded arable land with seawater, and uprooted thousands of fruit trees. The damage caused was estimated at US$30 million.*

The shift from the moist southwest monsoon to the dry northeast monsoon over the Indian subcontinent occurs during October and November. During this period, the northeast winds contribute to the formation of the northeast monsoon, which reaches Maldives in the beginning of December and lasts until the end of March. However, the weather patterns of Maldives do not always conform to the monsoon patterns of the Indian subcontinent. Rain showers over the whole country have been known to persist for up to one week during the midst of the dry season.*

Regional Difference in Climate of the Maldives

Because the Maldives extends about 800 kilometers (500 miles) from north to south across the equator there are climate variations between the northern and southern atolls. The northern and central atolls are drier and have a more pronounced dry season. The southern atolls are wetter. and are more strongly influenced by equatorial weather systems.

The annual rainfall averages 254 centimeters (100 inches) in the north and 381 centimeters (150 inches) in the south. More violent storms are possible in the northern atolls than those in the south. The disastrous tsunami that struck Indonesia on 26 December 2004 also impacted Maldives. The northernmost and southernmost islands suffered the brunt of the damage. [Source: Helen Chapin Metz, Library of Congress, 1994]

The northern and central atolls, including the Northern Atolls, Lhaviyani Atoll, and North and South Malé Atolls, receive approximately 170 to 200 centimeters (67 to 79 inches) of rainfall annually. The northeast monsoon, from about January to March, typically brings drier and more stable weather. During the southwest monsoon, which generally lasts from May to October, rainfall increases and stronger winds and occasional storms may occur. [Source: Science Direct]

The southern atolls, including Addu Atoll, Huvadhu Atoll, and Fuvahmulah, are generally wetter, with annual rainfall often exceeding 235 centimeters (93 inches). The dry season is less distinct than in the north, and showers and thunderstorms may occur at any time of year. The region's proximity to the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) contributes to higher humidity, more frequent cloud cover, and relatively consistent rainfall throughout the year. Although the wet season brings increased precipitation, winds are often less intense than those experienced in some northern parts of the country.

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: Republic of Maldives Department of Information, the government site (maldivesinfo.gov.mv), Ministry of Tourism Maldives (tourism.gov.mv), Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC, visitmaldives.com), “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 3: South Asia,” edited by Paul Hockings, 1992, National Geographic,, CIA World Factbook, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Encyclopedia.com, Library of Congress, Live Science, The Conversation, The New Yorker, Time, BBC, CNN, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Google AI, Wikipedia, The Guardian and various websites, books and other publications.

Last updated June 2026