Want Fantastic Weather In Mauritius?

What weather in Mauritius do you want to experience? Mauritius is located approximately 2000 kilometres (km) 1240 miles (mi) south of the equator and approximately 900km (560 mi) east of Madagascar.

Generally the summer months of December to March are very warm, humid and frequently lashed by very heavy rain, especially if a tropical cyclone approaches Mauritius.

In contrast, during the winter (June to September), the weather is quite cool, dry and windy. In fact, you may come to realise that the cooler months are the best time to visit.

Did you know that Mauritius has at least 27 micro climates?

Additional Topics covered on this page

• What clothes should you bring with you on your trip to Mauritius?
• How do you escape the wet weather in Mauritius?
• Weather too hot for you at the beach on Mauritius? - then head for the mountains
• Do you want to avoid the wind at the beach?
• Watch out for tropical cyclones
• Great surf locations

Worried about tropical cyclones interupting your holiday

The official tropical cyclone season in Mauritius runs from the 1st November to the 15th May, but generally, the more severe tropical cyclones occur in January and February.

You needn't feel too alarmed by this since the vast majority of recent tropical cyclones have not impacted Mauritius but have moved into the Mozambique Channel to the west of Madagascar.

If you're interested in reading more information, I've written another page about tropical cyclones in Mauritius.

Your Questions Answered

• Read what other people have asked regarding the weather in Mauritius

Summer weather in Mauritius

The weather in Mauritius during summer is best described as hot, humid and rainy. You'll find that on most days the morning will start out sunny, but from 2pm onwards, thunderstorms will start to form. These thunderstorms are very localised so while one location may record very heavy rain that may last up to an hour or two, just down the road, there may be hardly any rain at all. Having said that, if you're located on the western side of Mauritius, the rain is generally less frequent and usually doesn't last as long as it does in other parts of Mauritius.

Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius, commonly records the highest daytime temperatures since this city is situated in a basin which nearly blocks all of the cooler south-easterly trade winds. Furthermore, the city produces its own urban heat island effect and so this region tends to be at least one degree warmer than most other locations in Mauritius.

Also make sure you have some back up plans if the weather turns really nasty. For example, what would you do if a tropical cyclone suddenly approached Mauritius whilst you're on holidays there?

You should definitely think of obtaining some travel insurance before you travel here during the summer months just in case you're forced to stay in Mauritius for a few days longer than you anticipated. You should also find out if the accommodation that you're planning to stay at on Mauritius will cover expenses if indeed a tropical cyclone prevents you from leaving Mauritius. You don't want to be out of pocket due to the severe weather in Mauritius.

Weather in Mauritius during December

The weather in Mauritius during December will be very warm and muggy by night and hot and humid during the day. Temperatures should not drop below 20°C at night along the coastal parts of Mauritius throughout December.

However, some towns located at higher altitudes may record minimum temperatures of about 18-19°C. The daytime maximum temperatures will vary from 28°C to 31°C near the coast, but once again, the higher parts of the inland regions may only see temperatures rising to 25-27°C.

The north and western parts of Mauritius normally record the highest daytime maximum temperatures. There may be one or two days when the maximum temperature reaches 32-33°C, but this occurs on days when there's no wind.

You can also expect that the afternoon thunderstorms will produce short periods of rain near the start of December and much heavier rain by the end of the month.

The weather in Mauritius in January

January is known as the second wettest month in Mauritius. The weather in Mauritius during January can only be described as hot, very humid and rainy. Due to the combination of these factors, you may find that the weather in Mauritius at this time of year is very uncomfortable. You'll definitely require air conditioning at night and maybe during the day if the sea breeze doesn't arrive in the afternoon to cool things down for you.

The overnight temperatures during January will average 22-23°C near sea level and about 20°C in the mountains. The maximum temperatures will hover around around 29°C to 31°C on the coast. You may get one or two days when the maximum temperature will rise above 34°C, but this will occur in the north and the western side of Mauritius, where there's minimal wind.

Afternoon thunderstorms will become more frequent and prolonged during January. For this reason, you may need to alter your travel plans accordingly around these storms. The rain is less frequent near the western coastline of Mauritius during January and so this maybe the best location to stay at. (Although...don't blame me if it rains all day since I can't control the weather.)

Weather in Mauritius during February

February is the wettest and most humid time of the year in Mauritius. For this reason you should expect wet weather to occur at any hour of the day. The heaviest rain will fall over the inland region of Mauritius. The higher parts of the inland plateau typically record between 400-700mm (16-27 inches) of rain during this month alone.

You may find that February weather in Mauritius is shockingly humid. Many people wish they'd chosen a different month to arrive since they found both the heat and humidity unbearable. If you decide to jump on a plane in the Northern Hemisphere's late winter and then take a holiday in the Mauritian summer, then you may have wished that you acclimatised first.

If you're not sure when you want to travel to Mauritius and you've never experienced high humidity, then you would be wise not to choose February.

February is also the most frequent month climatologically for the arrival of tropical cyclones. This of course means that you should very carefully consider whether February is the month you really want to travel to Mauritius.

Autumn weather in Mauritius

Weather in Mauritius in March

The weather in Mauritius in March normally follows a similar pattern to the weather in February. You can still expect to see plenty of rain in all regions of Mauritius except along the western coastline both north and south of Flic en Flac beach. Although by the end of March, both the rainfall and temperatures will begin to decrease slightly.

You will still require air conditioning at night in March throughout most parts of Mauritius, except if you're staying up in the mountains.

Along the coastal areas you can expect the average minimum temperature will drop to between 21-22°C. In comparison, the higher elevation inland regions will record miminum temperatures of about 20°C.
The daytime maximum temperatures will reach about 29°C along the southern and eastern coastlines but around 30°C over the northern and western parts of Mauritius. Again, the higher altitude inland regions will be a little cooler during the day with temperatures rising to about 27°C.

Weather in Mauritius in April

The weather in Mauritius in April is still very warm and humid. Most parts of Mauritius record the same amount of rain as in March, but less than in February.
You can still expect that the first couple of weeks of April will have frequent afternoon showers and thunderstorms. However, generally by the last week of April, both the afternoon thunderstorm activity and its associated rainfall will start to decrease.

So if you're planning of spending most of your time at the beach, then you should consider travelling to Mauritius near the end of April since the threat of tropical cyclones is quite low.

Even though April is still considered to be part of the cyclone season, you're less likely to see menacing tropical cyclones hovering off the coast. The weather in Mauritius or I should say, the weather patterns over Mauritius in April is not as conducive to their formation as they were in January, February and March. If tropical cyclones do form, they will normally occur during the first two weeks of April.

During April, sea temperatures are still very warm (27°C) no matter what coastal part of Mauritius you plan to swim in. There will also be more sun than clouds near the end of April and so you should be able to enjoy your day at the beach without worrying as much about the weather.

The overnight temperatures along the coastal areas of Mauritius during the first couple of weeks in April will average around 21-22°C but by the end of the month it will drop to about 20-21°C.

During the day, first part of April will see maximum temperatures rising to about 29°C over the coastal regions. However, the weather in Mauritius will become a little cooler by the end of April and so the maximum will rise to between 27-28°C.

The weather in Mauritius in May

May is a great time to visit Mauritius since both the summer humidity and heat has lost its grip. During May, overnight temperatures will drop to around 18-20°C along the coast, whereas the inland regions will be a couple of degrees cooler than this.

If you want to check out the beach, the warmest sea temperatures (26°C) will be located along the northern beaches.

Also, the daytime maximum temperatures across Mauritius in May will start to vary. The warmest location will be found along the northern and western regions of Mauritius where it will average 28°C. The southern part of Mauritius will reach maximum temperatures of about 27°C and eastern parts will have the coolest maximum temperatures of about 26°C.

May is the beginning of the dry season and so you can expect that many of the days will be sunny. Although, when it does rain, it won't spoil your holiday since the rain comes in the form of quick, sharp showers. Most of the rain on Mauritius during May is confined to the mountainous plateau regions.

Typically, by the end of May, the weather in Mauritius becomes a little windier along the eastern and southern coastlines. This wind draws in moisture from off the sea which results in shower activity over the windier exposed parts of the coastline as well as on the eastern slopes of the central plateau.

At the same time, the weather on the western side of Mauritius tends to remain quite dry since the high inland mountains block the clouds from progressing westward. So if you want a sunny, rainless holiday in Mauritius in May then you should consider staying on the west coast.

Winter weather in Mauritius

Mauritius lies in the southeast trade wind belt and for that reason both the eastern and southern parts of Mauritius get quite gusty south easterly winds (i.e. winds coming from the south east) during winter. In order for you to escape the wind, you're best bet is to head off to the northwestern and western parts of Mauritius since the mountains block the winds from arriving in this region. The windiest months in winter occur in late July and early August.

You shouldn't see any snow in Mauritius during the winter for two reasons:

1. Mauritius lies within the tropics
2. The temperatures aren't cold enough even at the summit of the highest mountain.

You're also unlikely to experience frosts, even over the inland regions, but it will still get quite chilly in the mountains.

Weather in Mauritius in June

If you're planning to come to Mauritius in June and you're from the Northern Hemisphere, you must remember it's the beginning of winter here. Believe it or not, some people do forget that and wonder why it's not that hot.

June is also the month when you're likely to see many sunny days at the beach, so if you decide to arrive in June then you're in for some great weather. However, that doesn't mean you won't see any rain. There will still be some shower activity along the exposed parts of the eastern and southern coastlines. However, there won't be much rain, just short, sharp showers. The north western and western coastlines should remain rain free (well almost) and have the most amount of sun.

The temperatures across Mauritius in June does vary according to your location. The coldest location on Mauritus in June is situated in the central plateau region in the mountains where the temperatures will range from a minimum overnight temperature of between 12-16°C before reaching a daytime maximum of between 19-23°C.

In comparison, the warmest part of Mauritius in June is normally found along both the northern and western coastlines. The overnight temperatures in the warmest parts of Mauritius will range from 15-18°C and by day, the temperatures should rise to between 25-27°C.

Along the windy southern and eastern coastlines, you should see temperatures falling to about 14-18°C overnight before reaching a maximum temperature of around 24-25°C.

Both July and August are known as the coolest months of the year. The inland mountainous region normally record minimum overnight temperatures of between 10-15°C. During the day, the maximum temperatures rise to between 18-22°C.

In contrast, the western and northern coastlines are considerably warmer. Overnight temperatures range from 12-17°C and by day, the temperatures reaches around 25-26°C. The southern and eastern coastlines experience sightly cooler daytime temperatures.

If you like to go windsurfing, then July and August are the windiest months of the year. The strong and gusty south easterly trade winds blow consistently throughout these months. If you want to go swimming in an area that's not directly affected by the wind then check out Flic en Flac beach, which is located on the west coast.

The driest and sunniest part of Mauritius in July and August is definitely the western coastline. You'll see little if any rain if you stay on the western side of Mauritius. However, all other parts of Mauritius will receive some showery type weather, but it shouldn't be enough for you to worry about.

Spring weather in Mauritius

Weather in Mauritius during September

September is normally a month for beautiful weather in Mauritius since it's recognised as the second driest month of the year. You'll be lucky to see any rain at all if you plan to stay on the western side of Mauritius during September. Most other regions of Mauritius do receive some rain but it certainly won't be enough to become bothersome.

You can expect that overnight temperatures will still be cool during the first couple of weeks in September, particularly over the mountainous inland regions. The minimum temperature will vary between 13-18°C. The higher overnight temperatures in September are normally confined to the coastal parts of Mauritius.

By day, the maximum temperatures will reach a comfortable 23°C in the mountains and around 24°C (in the east), 25°C (in southern coastal areas), and 27°C in both the western and northern parts of Mauritius.

September is not nearly as windy as it is in July and August, so in that regard you may find that this month is one of the best times to visit Mauritius.

Weather in Mauritius during October

Sunny weather in Mauritius is almost guaranteed, (especially along the west coast). In fact, October generally has the least rain out of any month in Mauritius. Although, the western side of Mauritius has less rain in September than in October.

If you're planning to arrive in Mauritius in October, then make sure you bring adequate sun protection since this is also the sunniest month of the year. Remember the temperatures do not need to be very high for you to become sunburnt.

The overnight temperatures along the coastal areas of Mauritius during the first couple of weeks in October will average around 17-18°C but by the end of the month it will increase to about 18-19°C. During the day, the first part of October will see maximum temperatures rising to between 24-27°C along the coastal regions. However, higher maximum temperatures of between 25-28°C will become a daily occurrence near the end of October.

Weather in Mauritius in November

The weather in Mauritius during November gradually becomes hotter and more humid with each passing week. So if you want a nice holiday with minimal rain, then plan to arrive in Mauritius in the first couple of weeks of November. After that, afternoon thunderstorms become more frequent and tend to produce heavier rain in the latter part of this month.

You should see very warm daytime temperatures across the coastal parts of Mauritius throughout November. These temperatures will vary from 27-30°C. At night, there won't be many nights when the temperature drops much below 19°C.

The mountainous parts of Mauritius will have the coolest temperatures. The temperature range in this part of Mauritius will range from 16-18°C at night to about 25-26°C during the day.

If you're planning to go hiking in the mountains, make sure you visit in the early part of November since heavy rains will hit the area from mid to late November.

What clothes should you bring with you on your trip to Mauritius?

If you're staying at a resort on Mauritius, men are expected to wear long pants when dining at a restaurant. As for the women, if you dress smart, you can wear skirts or smart looking pants if you like. Once you have left the restaurant feel free whatever makes you comfortable. Below is a few tips that should help with the packing:

During the summer (December-February)

If you plan to visit Mauritius during the summer months then should plan to bring only summer clothing, preferably light, loose fitting material made out of cotton. Don't plan to walk around wearing denim jeans since they'll stick to your legs when you sweat and also you'll be far too hot.

Remember, you came to Mauritius to escape from the cold, so make sure you don't forget to soak up some of the sun's rays in order to get your daily dose of vitamin D₃. That means you should at least allow 10 minutes exposure to direct sunlight. After this time, you should then cover up and avoid getting sunburnt. Of course, if you're going swimming, remember to apply water repellent sunscreen.

During the winter (June, July and August)

During the winter, you should plan to bring some warmer clothing with you for going out at night. During the day, most of the time near the coast, especially along the western side of Mauritius, you can probably wear summer type clothing.

The eastern and southern coastlines will be quite windy at times and at least 2°C cooler than the western side of Mauritius. So in the these parts of Mauritius, you will feel quite comfortable wearing a pair of jeans and a loose fitting top.

Even though winter is much cooler than it is in summer, you should still protect your skin from sunburn if you plan to stay out in the sun for prolonged periods of time. It should be okay for you to spend at least 15-20 minutes in the sun before you need to apply sunscreen.

How do you escape the wet weather in Mauritius?

The best answer to this is to go and stay on the western side of Mauritius.

The Mauritius rainfall varies considerably according to your location on the island. Generally, the wettest spot in Mauritius occurs near the summit of the mountains. These mountains receive around 4000mm (157 inches) of rain annually since they attract rain-bearing clouds.

The rainfall decreases as you travel towards the ocean. The south eastern side of Mauritius normally receives twice as much rain as the western side. For this reason, if you want to have great weather at the beach even during the wet season then you should consider going to the beaches found on the western side of Mauritius.

There are two great beaches you need to be aware of the west coast that are worth checking out. These are called Flic en Flac and Tamarin Bay.

This part of Mauritius has much less rain during the summer months and when it does rain, the rain doesn't stick around as long. The western coastline of Mauritius over the last 30 years has only recorded about 600mm of rain for the year.

If there's a tropical storm or even worse, a tropical cyclone approaching, then you're likely to receive 20-30% of the total annual rainfall in a matter of 48 hours. If this happens, you're sure to see some major flash flooding across Mauritius.

Weather too hot for you at the beach on Mauritius? - then head for the mountains

The hottest weather in Mauritius during the daytime normally occurs in the north and western side of Mauritius. In fact, Port Louis is stiffling hot at times during the summer since there's minimal sea breezes to cool the city down.

The east coast is generally a little cooler than the southern parts of Mauritius since moist southeasterly trade winds prevent the maximum temperatures rising significantly in this region.

The mountains have the coolest temperatures

If you're planning to go hiking in the mountains, then you're advised to go in the winter since you've got a better chance of enjoying your walk in the sun. During the summer, torrential rain may ruin your hiking trip.

Remember that the temperature decreases with height and so you can expect that the daytime maximum temperatures will be at least 4-6°C cooler than at sea level. The mountains certainly won't be cold enough for you to see snow even in the winter (June-September) since the mountains aren't high enough. The highest mountain (known as Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire) in Mauritius is only 827 metres (2713 ft) above sea level.

Do you want to avoid the wind at the beach?

Mauritius is located in the south-east trade wind belt and for about 80% of the time, the winds come in from the south east. As you would expect, the mountains located over the central part of Mauritius act as a natural barrier to these winds.

So if you want to make sure that you're not going to blown to bits by the wind then the north western side of Mauritius is the least windy location on Mauritius.

However, the north western side can get quite windy during the summer months (December to February), so be sure to choose the best beach based on what month it is.

Best surf locations

If you want great surf then you should definitely check out south western coastline of Mauritius, in particular Tamarin bay and Le Morne point.

Tamarin Bay has a large number of warm, sunny days and receives minimal rainfall as does Flic en Flac beach. Many people label Tamarin Bay as the ultimate surfing spot in all Mauritius since as if the waves were made for surfing. Tamarin Bay is very safe since there's no dangerous undercurrents to drag you out to sea and generally the winds are quite light.

Le Morne point is located near the far southern western corner of Mauritius and usually has more rain than Tamarin Bay. Le Morne point normally experiences more hazardous weather conditions and larger waves with strong undercurrents since it's more exposed to the S.E. trade winds. However, in light of all that, it still is a great surf beach.

The best time to go surfing in Mauritius is during the winter (June-August) since this coincides the strongest south-easterly trade winds.

References

1. Jury MR. A preliminary-study of climatological associations and characteristics of tropical cyclones in the SW Indian Ocean. Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics. 1993;51(1-2):101-115.
   
2. Jury MR and Pathack B. A study of climate and weather variability over the tropical southwest Indian-Ocean. Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics. 1991;47 (l):37-48.
   
3. McIntire WG and Walker HJ. Tropical Cyclones and coastal morphology in Mauritius. Annals of the Association of American Geographers. 1964;54(4):582-596.

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