In the territory of Lakshadweep, located south-west of India, in the Laccadive Sea, the climate is
tropical, hot all year round, with a dry season from December to April and a rainy season from May to November.
The territory is comprised of the Amindivi Islands in the north, the Laccadive Islands in the center, and the island of Minicoy in the south, not far from the Maldives. The capital is Kavaratti.
The
temperatures are stable throughout the year, however, before the rainy season, from March to May, the hottest time of the year occurs. Here are the average temperatures in Minicoy.
Minicoy - Average temperatures| Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
|---|
| January | 23 | 30 | 26.8 | 74 | 86 | 80.2 |
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| February | 24 | 30 | 27.2 | 75 | 87 | 80.9 |
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| March | 25 | 31 | 28.1 | 77 | 89 | 82.6 |
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| April | 26 | 32 | 29.1 | 79 | 90 | 84.4 |
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| May | 26 | 32 | 29 | 79 | 89 | 84.2 |
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| June | 25 | 30 | 27.9 | 78 | 87 | 82.2 |
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| July | 25 | 30 | 27.6 | 77 | 86 | 81.6 |
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| August | 25 | 30 | 27.4 | 77 | 86 | 81.4 |
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| September | 25 | 30 | 27.4 | 77 | 86 | 81.4 |
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| October | 25 | 30 | 27.4 | 76 | 86 | 81.3 |
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| November | 24 | 30 | 27.2 | 75 | 87 | 81 |
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| December | 24 | 30 | 27 | 75 | 87 | 80.6 |
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| Year | 24.7 | 30.6 | 27.6 | 76.5 | 87.1 | 81.5 |
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The
rainfall amounts to 1,500/2,000 mm (60/80 in) per year; the rains begin in May, a little earlier in Minicoy, which is located in the south. The wettest months, when the rains take on monsoon-like characteristics, especially in the north, are June and July. The rains decrease in November, and in December, they are already quite rare. Here is the average precipitation.
Minicoy - Average precipitation| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
|---|
| January | 45 | 1.8 | 4 |
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| February | 20 | 0.8 | 2 |
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| March | 25 | 1 | 2 |
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| April | 60 | 2.4 | 5 |
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| May | 180 | 7.1 | 11 |
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| June | 295 | 11.6 | 20 |
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| July | 225 | 8.9 | 17 |
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| August | 200 | 7.9 | 15 |
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| September | 160 | 6.3 | 13 |
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| October | 185 | 7.3 | 13 |
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| November | 140 | 5.5 | 9 |
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| December | 85 | 3.3 | 5 |
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| Year | 1620 | 63.7 | 116 |
|---|
The amount of
sunshine in Lakshadweep is quite good in the dry period, from December to April; from May to November, in the rainy period, the sunshine hours decrease a little. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Minicoy - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
January | 7 | 215 | February | 7 | 200 | March | 7 | 215 | April | 7 | 210 | May | 6 | 185 | June | 5 | 150 | July | 5 | 155 | August | 5 | 155 | September | 6 | 180 | October | 6 | 185 | November | 6 | 180 | December | 7 | 215 | Year | 6.2 | 2250 |
The islands lie in the path of
tropical cyclones. Typically, cyclones occur from April to December, with two intensity peaks before and after the monsoon (from late April to early June and in October-November). From July to September, when the monsoon is in full swing in north-central India, they typically do not form in this southern area.
The sea in Lakshadweep is warm enough to swim in all year round, as can be seen in the following table.
Lakshadweep - Sea temperature| Month | Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) |
|---|
January | 28.5 | 83 | February | 28.5 | 83 | March | 29 | 84 | April | 30 | 86 | May | 30 | 86 | June | 29 | 84 | July | 28 | 83 | August | 28 | 82 | September | 28.5 | 83 | October | 29 | 84 | November | 29 | 84 | December | 28.5 | 84 | Year | 28.8 | 83.9 |
Best Time
The best time for a beach holiday in Lakshadweep is from
January to March, since it is the driest of the year and outside the cyclone period. In March, it can be hot, so the best months are January and February. In April, the rains have not started yet, but it is hot, and cyclones can already pass.
What to pack
All year round, bring light clothes of natural fibers, a sun hat, a scarf for the breeze, a light sweatshirt for the evening; in the rainy season, you can add a light raincoat or umbrella.
When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes.