In the midst of planning your next (or even better, your first) trip to this beautiful island archipelago? Well, the most essential piece of information you can have is, “when is the rainy season in the Maldives?”
Due to its prime location close to the equator, the Maldives benefits from stable and accommodating weather year-round. On the flip side of this, the islands that form the almost otherworldly archipelago do receive their fair share of rain. And let’s be honest, nobody wants their dream vacation ruined by a torrential downpour.
But don’t despair, as the monsoon season won’t put a damper on any of your holiday plans. The list of things to do or the best time to dive in Maldives isn’t weather dependent.
So, why does it matter when precisely the ‘wet season in Maldives’ begins and ends? Stick around as this insider’s guide answers every question you might have.
Maldives Rainy Season – Everything You Need To Know
Now, before we take a deep dive (pun intended) into when the Maldives start to go through their rainy season cycle, here’s a quick intro to this archipelago’s weather patterns.
In general, across the board, you can expect a humid and warm climate throughout the entire collection of islands. But, because of its geographical location, the Maldives is split into a span (roughly 800km) covering both the equator’s northern and southern sides.
This means that while a particular weather pattern might prevail on some of the islands, it won’t necessarily spread to all the islands.
And, just as unpredictable as the weather can be anywhere else in the world (although we usually have a solid idea of when the rainy season is), rain can and should be expected all year round in the Maldives. Due to these recurring and consistent rainfall patterns, weather forecasts for the Maldive islands are commonly divided into two monsoon seasons.
These are the summer and winter monsoon seasons. Using the word ‘monsoon’ can potentially scare up images of unbearable weather, but this is not the case for the Maldives. The only constant, however, throughout both seasons is the daily temperatures which do not fluctuate much.
So let’s look at when you can put your calendar notifications on for either monsoon season in the Maldives.
Rainy Season In Maldives: Month By Month Breakdown
While the Maldive islands experience the best weather during the months of November to April, the rainy season starts in May and ends around September or October. The most rainfall occurs during June, July, September, and October.
And sometimes mother nature even throws a curve ball, and you could see rain during the high season with some rain straight through to December.
Maldives Weather For May
If you plan a visit to the Maldives during the month of May, be aware that this is officially the beginning of the wet season. While the daily temperatures remain around 88°F, you should expect to start seeing the arrival of moderate to heavy rainfall during the day.
But, as is tradition for the Maldives, this downpour typically only lasts for a short period and is more frequent in the early to late afternoons.
May is when visibility starts to decrease in the archipelago’s waters due to higher levels of plankton because of the increase in rainfall. Don’t panic, though, as diving conditions remain very accommodating.
Maldives Weather In June
During June, rainfall does increase quite a bit, and temperatures drop to around 86°F. For first-time visitors, it might appear that fewer rain showers happen this month, but in reality, fewer heavy downpours occur, but more continuous light to moderate rain is likely.
Most luxury hotels in the Maldives offer great deals during this month with a focus on non-beach or water-based activities. However, the keen diver will be in paradise as larger schools of manta rays and whale sharks make their way to feast on the vast amount of plankton.
The Maldives In July
It’s in July that the rainy season of Maldives reaches its peak. You can expect your days to be characterized by short bursts of heavy downpour. These increasingly heavy rains come accompanied by strong winds and rough seas.
This is the perfect combination to create unpleasant storms, but they usually subside relatively quickly. These winds can reach a speed of 50 Knots per hour. While this is a bit of bad news for divers, surfers will rejoice.
The resulting ocean swells create the perfect surfing opportunities for those willing to brave the elements.
August In The Maldives
The rainy season becomes more temperate during August, and while days become slightly more humid and warm, bursts of heavy rainstorms are still common. You can expect a fair amount of sunshine throughout most days in August, but be warned, this can change quickly.
Remember, August is still mid-rainy season, but water-based activities such as snorkeling and diving go ahead as normal. Plankton numbers remain high; thus, sightings of mantas and whale sharks are still commonplace.
The Maldives In September
September is a bit of a mixed bag. Heavy rainfall and exceptional storms are uncommon during September however, more often than not, it is the wettest month of the year. But, you won’t need to prepare for a Maldives hurricane season anytime soon. Wettest does not mean more storms. It does, however, mean continuous rain similar to late June/early July.
September also sees the lowest average temperatures at roughly 83°F. Average rainfall can reach up to 9.6inches. The southern monsoon season in the Maldives reaches its peak during this month, and thus the southern atolls see the most precipitation.
For diving enthusiasts, this is the month to catch some genuinely unforgettable dives as more significant marine life, especially hammerhead and whale sharks, put on quite a display.
October Weather In The Maldives
With the arrival of October, the southern monsoon season begins its end, and the northern monsoons get into full swing. This might sound ominous, but the northern monsoon season doesn’t bring with it as much rain to the atolls as the south.
But due to the intersection of both monsoon seasons, October follows suit with September as an extremely wet month. You can expect the highest humidity for the rainy season during this month, and full days of rain can occur.
Cloudy days are more likely during October than in other months, but warm temperatures remain consistent.
Dry Season In Maldives: Is It The Best Time To Visit?
November through to April is referred to as the dry season or summer in the Maldives. While the northern Maldives monsoon season happens during these months, it only brings with it brief rain showers and rare thunderstorms.
Due to a decrease in heavy rainfall, visibility increases, and diving takes center stage. This is when you can expect an influx of tourists to the islands as sunny days, and clear skies take over.
December is the hottest and most humid month of the year, but random showers can happen. These will usually occur during the late afternoons and won’t last long enough to be bothersome.
January leads in the summer months of the Maldives and brings with it low humidity, higher temperatures, and picturesque sunny days. It is worth noting that some rain can surprise you even during both December and January. The chances of this however are very low.
The driest months in Maldives are February, March, and April. Featuring the perfect weather to go snorkeling or diving, the atolls quickly fill up with eager tourists. We suggest booking your flights to the Maldives (and, of course, your luxury resorts) in advance.
March and April are the year’s hottest months and temperatures rocket to above 88°F. Luckily, this being the Maldives, the archipelago does see scattered short-burst rain showers that break the heat.
These are the perfect months for diving and snorkeling, with some of the best Maldives resorts for snorkeling welcoming eager visitors. And at the end of April, the official surfing season begins.
What To Expect From The Climate Of Maldives
Much of the idyllic conditions you’ll experience throughout the year (even during the rainy season) is thanks to the dominating climate in the Maldives. The tropical environment translates into warm weather in Maldives year-round, and even during rainfall, the ocean remains warm.
Winter is a virtually unknown concept in the archipelago, and you’ll never experience a cold day while on any of the islands. So even if you’re looking for the best time to visit the Maldives, anytime is the best time unless you have terrible luck.
Final Thoughts | The Rainy Season – Maldives
While the rainy season throughout the northern and southern atolls (regardless of which month) does deliver on the promise of wet weather, the archipelago’s appeal never fades. And, although the weather is unpredictable no matter where you are, you can bet on rain during the months of May to October.
Seasonal changes from November to April showcase less likely rain showers, and while these can happen, the ‘dry season’ remains the best season to visit this majestic paradise.
All you really have to do is book your luxury all-inclusive resort accommodation, decide on the best airline to fly to Maldives, and prepare for a tropical island adventure. So, what are you waiting for?
