Maldives
Weather locations in Maldives
Choose a location in Maldives to view its available forecast products.
Maldives illustrated weather map
2 mapped locations
Only locations with a verified coordinate are marked. The complete location list is below.
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Climate of Maldives
Country climate guideThe Maldives is less a country of weather than a country of water: 26 atolls of coral standing a few metres above the sea, spread across about 800 kilometres from north to south. Because there is no soil, no rock and almost no vegetation on most islands, the climate is entirely a function of the ocean and the monsoon, and rain depends on how high and how shallow an atoll is. There is not a single river, lake or waterfall anywhere in the country.
Main climate types
The whole country is classed as tropical, and its rainfall follows the monsoon: the south-west monsoon from roughly May or June to September brings the wet season, while the north-east monsoon from about December to March is the dry one. The atolls are exceptional here, because shallow inner atolls surrounded by deeper outer ones collect more moisture and are measurably wetter, while the outermost, higher-rimmed atolls are drier.
Temperatures
Temperature barely changes. At Malé, monthly means run from about 25 or 26 °C in the coolest months to around 28 °C in the warmest, a total annual range of only two or three degrees. Highs sit near 30 or 31 °C and nights near 25 °C, humidity is high most of the year, and the sea stays between about 26 °C and 29 °C.
Rainfall
Annual rainfall varies with location: atolls with taller coral rims may take only around 1,000 mm, spread across the year, while others regularly exceed 2,000 mm. The wettest months are usually June and July, when the south-west monsoon and thunderstorms bring heavy rain. As sea levels rise and rims erode, exposure to storm surge and saltwater intrusion is a growing concern.
When to go
January to April is the driest, sunniest and least humid period, with the north-east trade winds giving good snorkelling and clear water. During the south-west monsoon from June to September, expect rain, heavy humidity and rougher water on the western side of the atolls, but also the clearest visibility on the outer reefs. Because most islands stand so low, storm seasons and high swell matter more than rain.