Maldives Weather Radar

Maldives climate

The Maldives has a warm tropical maritime climate with remarkably stable temperatures averaging 28°C to 31°C year-round and minimal seasonal variation. Spread across 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean, the archipelago straddles the equator and is the world's lowest-lying country, with a maximum natural elevation of just 2.4 meters above sea level.

Two monsoon seasons govern the Maldivian weather: the southwest "Hulhangu" monsoon from May to October brings wetter conditions with higher humidity and occasional storms, while the northeast "Iruvai" monsoon from November to April delivers drier weather and calmer seas. Annual rainfall averages 1,500-2,500 mm, with the southern atolls receiving more precipitation than the northern ones.

As the world's flattest country, the Maldives is exceptionally vulnerable to sea-level rise and storm surges, with the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami temporarily submerging much of the archipelago. Ocean temperatures around the atolls remain between 27°C and 30°C throughout the year, supporting vibrant coral reefs that are themselves threatened by marine heat waves and coral bleaching events linked to El Nino cycles.