Climate of Seychelles

Climate of Seychelles

The Seychelles have a tropical rainforest climate, type Af according to the Köppen-Geiger climate system. Because the islands are relatively small, there is relatively little variation in climatic data. The biggest differences can be found in the precipitation amounts, which vary on Mahé, for example, from 2400 millimeters in the capital Victoria to more than 3600 millimeters in the mountain areas of Mahé. On the other islands the precipitation amounts are often somewhat lower. Characteristic of the climate of the Seychelles is that there is no pronounced dry period. It is, however, significantly less wet halfway through the calendar year than around the turn of the year.

About the Seychelles

Where is the country of Seychelles located? The Republic of Seychelles is located east of mainland Africa. This archipelago is usually referred to simply as Seychelles. Seychelles belonged to France for many years, but became independent in 1976. A large part of European tourists are still French. The Seychelles are loved as a luxury beach destination. Some of the beaches are among the most beautiful in the world. Due to the romantic nature of the hotels, this holiday destination is very popular for a honeymoon. Thanks to the package holidays that are offered, it is nowadays somewhat affordable to fly here for a beach holiday. In the past, this was really reserved for the jet set. A holiday in the Seychelles will rarely be cheap, but on average it is no longer as expensive as it used to be.

Temperatures

The afternoon temperature is around thirty degrees Celsius in the summer months, after which the mercury gradually drops to an average of 24 degrees Celsius in the coolest winter months. Because the Seychelles are south of the equator, the coolest months coincide with our summer and the warmest with the winters in the Netherlands. Night temperatures are several degrees lower than daytime temperatures. Within 24 hours you will see an average temperature difference of about five to six degrees. It almost never gets colder than twenty degrees (minimum temperature) on the coast. Due to the relatively high relative humidity, there is usually a higher perceived temperature than what the thermometers indicate.

Hurricanes

The Seychelles have a favorable position when it comes to hurricanes. The area where tropical depressions and hurricanes can occur during hurricane season is just below the Seychelles. However, the islands can experience significant amounts of precipitation in the period from December to May as a result of hurricane activity south of the Seychelles. Then it is possible that tens of millimeters of rain will fall within 24 hours. This kind of weather is fairly predictable in the short term, because the path of a tropical depression can be determined with reasonable precision about 24 to 48 hours in advance. It is somewhat more difficult to make exact forecasts about the eventual amount of precipitation that will fall somewhere at a certain moment.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Maximum temperature Minimum temperature Hours of sunshine per day Days of rainfall per month Water temperature
January 30℃ 24℃ 5 18 28℃
February 30℃ 25℃ 6 14 29℃
March 31℃ 25℃ 7 14 29℃
April 32℃ 25℃ 8 16 30℃
May 31℃ 25℃ 8 15 29℃
June 29℃ 25℃ 8 16 27℃
July 28℃ 24℃ 8 16 26℃
August 29℃ 24℃ 8 16 26℃
September 29℃ 24℃ 7 14 27℃
October 30℃ 24℃ 7 14 28℃
November 30℃ 24℃ 7 16 28℃
December 30℃ 24℃ 6 20 28℃

Best time to visit the Seychelles

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to the Seychelles? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. The Republic of Seychelles consists of more than a hundred islands that lie in the Indian Ocean. Partly due to the tropical climate, the dream beaches and the beautiful hotels, the Seychelles is a popular holiday destination for those who want to celebrate a luxurious beach holiday. Not that you necessarily have to have a large travel budget to visit the Seychelles, but it does help. Fortunately, there are also accommodations for those on a lower budget. The country is best known as a destination for couples and especially honeymooners. Anyone who sees pictures of the Seychelles will understand that completely. The Seychelles have a tropical rainforest climate. This includes high temperatures, lots of sunshine and quite a bit of rain. That is perhaps the most typical thing about the weather in the Seychelles: how quickly sunny weather and showers can alternate. Like many tropical destinations, the Seychelles have a wet season and a drier season. During every month you have a chance of rain showers. The big difference between the seasons is that the showers occur more often during the wet season, they often last longer and they can be more intense.

Best months

The best time to travel for a holiday in the Seychelles is from June to August. this is the driest and sunniest period of the year. Daytime temperatures average around or slightly below thirty degrees Celsius, which is great weather to spend on the beach or by the pool. The seawater temperature is around the comfortable values ​​of 26-27 degrees. This period has one disadvantage that is often not mentioned: the wind speeds increase from mid-May and remain so until the beginning of October. August is a peak month in terms of wind with average wind speeds of 25 to 30 kilometers per hour. The southeast trade wind that rises then creates a restless sea and seaweed regularly washes ashore. At the hotels, this is generally quickly removed.

The wet season

When it is winter with us, the wet season is underway in the Seychelles. The rainy season actually starts in September, but this season peaks in December, January and February.

It rains more and more often. The humidity is higher and the sun shines less often. It is striking that the wind is much less present in this period than in the middle of the year. During the wet season it is slightly warmer. The perceived temperature is higher anyway due to the damper weather.

Seychelles