Destination guide
Maldives weather by month
February and March are the best choices for a Maldives holiday built around sunshine and swimming, with January close behind. February combines daytime warmth of 28°C with just 7 rain days and 6 hours of sunshine a day. The main decision is about rain and cloud, not finding warm weather: temperatures barely change through the year. Outside the brighter months, the sea stays warm, but you need more flexibility with outdoor plans.
- Hottest month
- 28.6°CApril
- Coolest month
- 27.3°CJanuary
- Warmest sea
- 29.9°CApril
- Flight from London
- 11 h 24 minLong-haul (7 h+) · estimated
Maldives, month by month
A little perspective
Maldives through the year
Every month at a glance; "best" marks our three top months on warmth, dryness and sunshine.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Januarybest | 27.3°C | 26.1°C | 28.1°C | 5.4 | 82 | 11 | 100% |
| Februarybest | 27.6°C | 26.4°C | 28.4°C | 6.0 | 37 | 7 | 100% |
| Marchbest | 28.2°C | 26.9°C | 29.2°C | 6.5 | 47 | 9 | 100% |
| April | 28.6°C | 26.9°C | 29.9°C | 5.3 | 114 | 17 | 100% |
| May | 28.5°C | 26.7°C | 29.6°C | 2.9 | 227 | 24 | 100% |
| June | 28.3°C | 26.7°C | 29.0°C | 2.4 | 126 | 18 | 100% |
| July | 28.0°C | 26.4°C | 28.8°C | 2.1 | 142 | 18 | 100% |
| August | 27.9°C | 26.4°C | 28.7°C | 2.5 | 144 | 16 | 100% |
| September | 27.7°C | 26.1°C | 28.7°C | 2.9 | 177 | 19 | 100% |
| October | 27.6°C | 26.0°C | 28.6°C | 3.5 | 194 | 21 | 100% |
| November | 27.4°C | 25.8°C | 28.6°C | 3.6 | 220 | 21 | 100% |
| December | 27.3°C | 25.8°C | 28.4°C | 4.1 | 206 | 19 | 100% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
When to go to Maldives
For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. May is the wettest month (227 mm, about 24 rainy days) and February the driest (37 mm). The sea is warmest in April at 29.9°C and coolest in January at 28.1°C.
Getting there
A direct flight from London Gatwick to Velana International Airport (MLE, 3 km from Male) takes roughly 11 h 24 min - long-haul (7 h+) by UK standards. Time-zone: Indian/Maldives.
Records and extremes, 1991-2020
The hottest day recorded in Maldives between 1991 and 2020 reached 30.5°C on 16 May 1998; the coldest fell to 23.9°C on 13 January 2000. In April one day in ten tops 29.4°C and about 1% of days pass 30°C; in January one night in ten drops to 25.1°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was December 2006 with 502 mm, against a December average of 206 mm.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Maldives
Local time on the 15th of each month; daylight-saving rules as of 2020.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Sunshine/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:18 | 18:12 | 11.9 h | 5.4 h |
| February | 06:21 | 18:20 | 12.0 h | 6.0 h |
| March | 06:12 | 18:18 | 12.1 h | 6.5 h |
| April | 06:00 | 18:12 | 12.2 h | 5.3 h |
| May | 05:53 | 18:12 | 12.3 h | 2.9 h |
| June | 05:56 | 18:17 | 12.4 h | 2.4 h |
| July | 06:02 | 18:22 | 12.3 h | 2.1 h |
| August | 06:03 | 18:18 | 12.3 h | 2.5 h |
| September | 05:57 | 18:05 | 12.1 h | 2.9 h |
| October | 05:51 | 17:53 | 12.0 h | 3.5 h |
| November | 05:53 | 17:48 | 11.9 h | 3.6 h |
| December | 06:05 | 17:58 | 11.9 h | 4.1 h |
January to March: the strongest weather window
Choose February if keeping rain disruption down matters most. It is the driest month, and its combination of warm days and relatively generous sunshine makes it the clearest all-round choice. March is almost as favourable, with 8 rain days and a slightly warmer sea at 29°C. January is a good alternative, though its 11 rain days and shorter sunshine average make it less reliable for clear skies. None of these months is cool: evenings stay warm, so light clothing makes more sense than heavy layers. Plan some shade around midday, and keep a rain layer handy even during this drier window.
April and May: warmer water, a sharper rain trade-off
April suits travellers who put warm swimming water ahead of the lowest rain risk. It is the hottest month, with average daytime temperatures around 29°C and the sea at 30°C, but 16 rain days make it a less dependable sunshine choice than March. May keeps that very warm sea while bringing a much stronger wet-weather catch: it is the wettest month and averages 24 rain days. Sunshine also drops to 3 hours a day. These months still work for a warm break, but May especially suits flexible plans rather than a holiday whose success depends on long stretches of sunshine.
June to December: warmth without dependable sunshine
June and July remain warm, but each averages only 2 hours of sunshine a day and 18 rain days. August has fewer rain days at 16, yet no improvement in sunshine, so it is not a convincing choice if blue skies are your priority. September brings a little more sun alongside more frequent rain. October and November improve to 4 sunshine hours, but both still average 21 rain days: brighter does not mean dry. December eases to 19 rain days, making it a wetter choice than January or February rather than a reliable start to the drier window. Throughout this period, temperatures suit light clothing and the sea stays warm. Leave room to rearrange outdoor time, and do not treat a rain-day average as a forecast of continuous rain.
A little more detail
Maldives weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
What is the best time to visit Maldives?
Judged on warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, the best months in Maldives are February, March and January. April is the hottest month (average high 28.6°C) and January the coolest (27.3°C).
How many months a year is Maldives over 25°C?
12 months in Maldives average a daytime high of 25°C or more, and 12 average 20°C or more.
When is the rainy season in Maldives?
May is the wettest month in Maldives (227 mm on average) and February the driest (37 mm). Annual rainfall averages 1716 mm.
What is the hottest temperature recorded in Maldives?
The hottest day recorded in Maldives between 1991 and 2020 reached 30.5°C on 16 May 1998; the coldest fell to 23.9°C on 13 January 2000. Records come from daily data for 1991-2020, not from a single station's all-time history.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming all year?
Yes, sea temperatures stay between 28°C and 30°C throughout the year. April and May have the warmest water, while January, February and December sit at the cooler end. Warm water alone does not guarantee suitable swimming conditions on a particular day.
Will I need warm clothes in the evenings?
Average nights stay at 26°C or 27°C, so cold evenings are not the main packing concern. Prioritise light, breathable clothing, sun protection and a lightweight waterproof. Quick-drying clothes are a practical choice, particularly during the wetter months.
Is December as good as January for sunshine?
January is the stronger choice. It averages 5 hours of sunshine and 11 rain days, compared with December's 4 hours and 19 rain days. Daytime and sea temperatures are the same, so the advantage is less rain and more sun rather than extra warmth.
See also: Maldives weather by month · where else is hot in April
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Male (Malé). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 1.7 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C