Male, the capital of the Maldives, enjoys a tropical climate with warm temperatures, high humidity, and abundant sunshine year-round. The city experiences two main seasons: a dry, sunny northeast monsoon from January to March, and a wetter southwest monsoon from May to November. Gentle sea breezes and consistently warm sea temperatures make Male a paradise for beach lovers and divers.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colors of the months:
The color shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the color is shows the travel season: full color means high season, soft color means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The gray info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Male’s climate is shaped by its equatorial location and the surrounding Indian Ocean, resulting in minimal temperature fluctuations and consistently warm, humid conditions. Daytime highs typically range from 29°C to 32°C, while nighttime lows rarely drop below 25°C. The hottest months are March and April, just before the onset of the southwest monsoon. The city enjoys high humidity, averaging 75–80%, but gentle sea breezes help keep conditions comfortable. The sea remains warm all year, with temperatures between 27°C and 29°C, ideal for swimming and water sports.
There are two main seasons: the dry northeast monsoon (Iruvai) from January to March, and the wet southwest monsoon (Hulhangu) from May to November. The dry season brings clear skies, low rainfall, and up to 10–11 hours of sunshine per day, making it the peak travel period. Rainfall increases significantly during the wet season, especially from June to September, with heavy but usually short-lived showers, overcast skies, and rougher seas. May and October are transitional months, often marked by brief but intense rain and shifting winds. Despite the rain, the wet season still offers plenty of sunny intervals, and the risk of cyclones is very low due to the Maldives’ equatorial position. Winds are generally light to moderate, with stronger gusts during the southwest monsoon, especially in June and July. Annual rainfall in Male averages around 2,000 mm, with the southern atolls receiving more rain than the north.
| Average climate data for Male, Maldives | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°F) | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 88 | 87 | 87 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 89 |
| Average minimum temperature (°F) | 78 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 79 | 79 | 78 | 78 | 77 | 77 | 78 | 77 | 77 |
| Average precipitation (inch) | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 77 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 5 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 131 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 78 | 78 | 77 | 78 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 82 | 83 | 81 | 80 |
| Average water temperature (°F) | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 85 | 85 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 83 | 84 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Average UV index | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 |
The best time to visit Male is from January to April, during the dry northeast monsoon. These months offer the sunniest, driest, and calmest weather, with ideal conditions for beach activities, diving, and snorkeling. The sea is clear and warm, and rainfall is minimal, making this period perfect for a classic tropical getaway.
The least favorable time to visit Male is from June to September, during the peak of the southwest monsoon. This period sees the heaviest rainfall, higher humidity, frequent storms, and rougher seas, which can disrupt outdoor activities and water sports. However, prices are lower and the islands are less crowded.
Male has a tropical climate with warm temperatures (29–32°C), high humidity, and abundant sunshine all year. The city experiences a dry season from January to March and a wet, humid season from May to November.
The best time to visit Male is from January to April, when the weather is driest, sunniest, and the sea is calmest. This is perfect for beach holidays, diving, and snorkeling, but it is also the busiest and most expensive season.
Rainfall in Male is highest from May to November, especially June to September, with frequent heavy but short-lived showers. The dry season from January to March has much less rain and more sunshine.
Temperatures in Male are consistently warm year-round, with highs of 29–32°C. April is usually the hottest month, but even then, the heat is moderated by sea breezes and high humidity.
Yes, the sea around Male stays warm year-round, with temperatures from 27°C to 29°C. Swimming, snorkeling, and diving are possible in every season, though visibility may be lower during the wet season.
The Maldives, including Male, is rarely affected by cyclones due to its equatorial location. While storms and rough seas can occur during the wet season, major tropical cyclones are extremely rare.
Pack light, breathable clothing, swimwear, sun protection, and a rain jacket if visiting in the wet season. High SPF sunscreen and a hat are essential all year. Book accommodation early for peak season.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is April (88.8 °F). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is December (85.8 °F). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 86.8 °F.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is April (79.7 °F). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is October (77.2 °F). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 78.1 °F.
The month with the highest average water temperature is April (85.7 °F). The month with the lowest average water temperature is December (82.8 °F). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 84.1 °F.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is September (9.6 inch). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is February (2 inch). Over the whole year there are 76.8 inch of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is September (15.7 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (3.6 days). Over the whole year there are 130.8 days of rain on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is November (82.8 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is March (77.2 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 79.7 %.
The months with the longest days, so the most daylight, are May, June, July and August (Average daylight: 12 h). The months with the shortest days, so the least daylight, are January, November and December (Average daylight: 11.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is March (Average sunshine: 9.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is September (Average sunshine: 6.1 h). Over the whole year there are 7.3 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are January, February, March, April, May, August, September, October and November (UV index: 12). The months with the lowest average UV index are June, July and December (UV index: 11). Over the whole year the average UV index is 11.8.
