The Maldives has a tropical climate with moderately high temperatures year round. There are effectively two seasons, which are determined by the monsoons. However, being on the equator, the monsoons are mild and not as defined as in neighbouring countries, consequently The Maldives are considered as a year round destination, although you are obviously to expect to see rain when visiting in the southwest monsoon months.



Of the two monsoons, the southwest monsoon from May to October brings some rain and wind. During this period the storms that are experienced are typically quick to appear, with winds suddenly picking up followed by torrential rain. Normally a storm will last for a few hours, being replaced by calm conditions, however at times stormy conditions may prevail for a day or longer.

The northeast monsoon from November to April is the dry season with very little rain and wind. The temperature varies little with an annual average daily maximum of 30.4º degrees Celsius and a minimum of 25.9º degrees Celsius. The average annual rainfall stands at just over 1,600mm and the country, with the equator running through it, has an annual average of over 2,800 hours of sunshine, about 8 hrs a day.