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Climate - Madagascar


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Madagascar

Map - Madagascar

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Index


  • Introduction
  • The far north - Antsiranana
  • North-west coast - Nosy Be, Mahajanga
  • West coast - Morondava
  • Arid south-west - Toliara
  • East Coast - Toamasina, Tolanaro
  • Inland areas - Antananarivo
  • Cyclones

Introduction


Madagascar is a large island located in the Indian Ocean, and has a tropical climate, rainy along the east coast, arid in the south-west, and temperate in the mountains. In inland areas, mountain ranges mitigate the climate, while rainfall varies depending on slope exposure. Being in the Southern Hemisphere, the country has reversed seasons compared with Europe or North America.
In the whole country, there's a rainy season from November to March, which, however, produces little effects in the southwest, which is therefore arid. On the other hand, in most of the country, there is a dry season from April to October (or from May to September in the north), except on the east coast, where it rains all year round. As is typical of tropical areas, the rains usually occur in the form of thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon, so there's no shortage of sunshine even in the wettest months, at least in the morning hours.
In the cool period, from mid-May to September, but sometimes also in October, cool air masses from the south-west can affect the country, bringing a bit of cool weather at night, especially in the center-south, and even cold in inland areas.
The country is very interesting, not only for the beauty of the landscapes, but also for its flora and fauna. In fact, having been separated from the African continent millions of years ago, it has a great biodiversity and many native species.

The far north



The far north
In the far north, in the northern tip of Madagascar, it is hot all year round, while the rains are quite contained, hovering around 1,000/1,200 millimeters (40/47 inches) per year.

Antsiranana

In Antsiranana (or Diego-Suarez), it is hot all year round, although the temperatures slightly drop from June to September. Here are the average temperatures.
Antsiranana - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January233227.3738981.1
February233127.1738880.7
March233227.3738981.1
April233227.3738981.1
May223126.6718979.8
June203025.3698777.6
July203024.6678576.3
August203024.8678676.6
September203025.3688777.5
October213226.5708979.6
November223227.4729081.4
December233327.8739182.1
Year21.631.226.3570.988.279.5

In Antsiranana, 1,200 mm (47 in) of rain fall per year, and rainfall is abundant only from December to March. Here is the average rainfall.
Antsiranana - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January34013.416
February3051215
March1807.112
April5026
May150.64
June200.83
July200.84
August200.84
September100.42
October150.63
November552.25
December1706.710
Year11954784

The sun in Antsiranana regularly shines in the long dry season, while in the summer rainy season, the sunshine hours decrease a little.
Antsiranana - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January6190
February6170
March7215
April8.5255
May9285
June8.5255
July9275
August9285
September10295
October10305
November9.5280
December7.5230
Year8.33040

The sea temperature in Antsiranana remains high enough for swimming even in winter, since it only drops to 25 °C (77 °F) from July to September.
Antsiranana - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2984
February2984
March2984
April2983
May2882
June2680
July2578
August2577
September2577
October2679
November2781
December2883
Year27.280.9

North-west coast



The north-west
On the north-west coast too, temperatures are high all year round, but being that it's directly exposed to the northwest monsoon, the rains are more abundant, so much so that they exceed 2,000 mm (80 in) in some areas.

Nosy-Be

In Nosy-Be, an island located a short distance from the coast of Ambanja, the decrease in temperatures from May to August is limited. Here are the average temperatures.
Nosy Be - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January243228759082.3
February243227.9759082.2
March243328.2759182.7
April243328.2749182.7
May223227719080.6
June203125.8698878.4
July193125.1678777.1
August203125.4678877.7
September203226688978.9
October223327.7729281.8
November233328.3749282.9
December243228749082.4
Year22.132.127.0571.889.880.5

Not only the period from November to March is rainy, but it's also hot and muggy. We are in the austral summer, a season when the country is divided into two: in the north, the north-west monsoon prevails, bringing heavy rains along the north-west coast, where rainfall is around 400/500 mm (16/20 in) per month in January and February. Here is the average rainfall of Nosy-Be.
Nosy Be - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January46518.320
February42516.716
March28511.213
April1405.57
May602.43
June5023
July351.43
August401.63
September401.63
October953.75
November1907.510
December36014.214
Year218586100

The sun in Nosy Be shines very often in the dry period, from May to October. On average, there are almost 3,000 sunshine hours per year.
Nosy Be - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January6185
February6170
March7225
April8245
May9270
June8.5250
July8.5265
August9285
September9.5280
October9280
November8.5250
December7220
Year82925

In this part of the coast, the sea temperature is high throughout the year, as we can see in the following table.
Nosy Be - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2984
February2984
March2985
April2984
May2883
June2781
July2679
August2678
September2678
October2680
November2882
December2883
Year27.781.8

Mahajanga

Going further south on the north-western coast, the climate remains similar, even though the rainfall is less abundant: the summer remains very rainy, but it's a little shorter. Moreover, for a long period, from May to October, it almost never rains. Here is the average rainfall in Mahajanga.
Mahajanga - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January40015.717
February38515.216
March1957.712
April702.84
May100.41
June101
July20.11
August30.11
September20.11
October100.42
November1204.76
December2801113
Year147558.175

In Mahajanga, it's hot all year round, but the temperature drops a little from June to September, especially at night. Here are the average temperatures.
Mahajanga - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January243228759082.4
February243228.1769082.7
March243328.6759183.4
April233428.6749383.4
May213327.3719281.1
June193225.7679078.2
July193225.1658977.2
August193225.7669078.2
September203326.8699280.2
October223428.1729382.6
November243428.9759384
December243328.6769183.4
Year22.132.827.471.89181.5

The sky in Mahajanga is normally clear in the long dry season, while the sunshine hours decrease a little in the rainy season. There are as high as 3,200 sunshine hours per year.
Mahajanga - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January6.5210
February6.5185
March8245
April9270
May9.5295
June9.5285
July9.5290
August10305
September10305
October10.5320
November9.5290
December7.5225
Year8.83225

The sea temperature in Mahajanga remains high enough for swimming throughout the year, as we can see in the following table.
Mahajanga - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2985
February2985
March3085
April3085
May2983
June2781
July2679
August2678
September2679
October2781
November2883
December2985
Year2882.3


West Coast



West coast
On the west coast, the temperatures in the austral winter decrease, becoming cool during the night. Furthermore, the west coast is not as rainy as the north-west coast, in fact, the rainfall hovers between 700 and 1,000 mm (27 and 40 in) per year, compared with the 1,500/2,000 mm (60/80 in) of the northwest coast.

Morondava

In Morondava, the average temperature ranges from 28 °C (82.5 °F) in the December-February period to 22/22.5 °C (71.5/72.5 °F) in the June-August period. Here are the average temperatures.
Morondava - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January243228.2769082.7
February243228.2759082.8
March243328.2749182.8
April213327709180.6
May183124.6648876.4
June153022.4598572.3
July153022.2588571.9
August163022.7608672.9
September183124.6658776.3
October213226.1698979
November233327.7739181.9
December243328.3759183
Year20.131.625.868.288.878.5

Precipitation in Morondava amounts to 765 mm (30 in) per year; the rains are abundant for a short period, from December to February, while there is a very long dry season, from April to November, when it almost never rains. Here is the average rainfall.
Morondava - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January2409.411
February2007.910
March903.56
April150.61
May110.41
June20.11
July20.11
August20.11
September40.21
October120.51
November200.82
December1656.58
Year76530.144

The sun in Morondava shines very often, and it shines for many hours even in the rainy season. In an average year, there are as many as 3,500 hours of sunshine.
Morondava - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January8.5270
February8.5240
March9.5290
April9.5290
May10300
June9.5290
July9.5300
August10310
September10300
October10.5320
November10.5315
December9285
Year9.63505

The sea temperature in Morondava remains high enough for swimming even in winter, since it drops to 25 °C (77 °F) from July to September.
Morondava - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2985
February2985
March3085
April2984
May2781
June2679
July2577
August2577
September2577
October2679
November2781
December2983
Year27.381.1

Near Morondava, we find the famous Avenue of the Baobabs.

Avenue of the Baobabs

Arid south-west



The south-west
On the south-western coast, rainfall diminish further, so much so that it drops below 500 mm (20 in) per year. In fact, in the austral summer, the south-east trade winds still blow in the south of the country, bringing rainfall along the eastern side, but it is much less intense in the south-west.
In winter, on the other hand, temperatures drop quite sharply, especially at night, when it gets cool, also because from June to September, and sometimes even in May and October, this area is directly exposed to cool air masses that may come from South Africa.

Toliara

In Toliara (formerly Tulear), just north of the Tropic of Cancer, only 420 mm (16.5 in) of rain fall per year, with a maximum of around 90 mm (3.5 in) per month from December to February. Here is the average precipitation.
Toliara - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January953.78
February903.59
March351.45
April200.83
May150.63
June150.63
July60.22
August60.21
September80.32
October120.52
November200.83
December953.77
Year42016.548

In the southwest, which in summer is the hottest area of the country, the temperature can reach 40 °C (104 °F) from December to March. Here are the average temperatures in Toliara.
Toliara - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January243328.6759283.4
February233428.4749283.2
March233428.2739282.8
April213226.4699079.4
May183024.2648775.5
June162922.2608472.1
July152821.7598371.1
August162922.3608472.1
September173023.6638674.5
October193125678777
November213226.6708979.9
December233327.8739182
Year19.631.225.3567.388.177.5

The sun in Toliara regularly shines throughout the year, so, the amount of sunshine remains very good even in summer; there are up to 3,600 hours of sunshine a year.
Toliara - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January10310
February9.5270
March9.5300
April9.5290
May9.5295
June9.5280
July9.5295
August10315
September10305
October10315
November10.5315
December9.5300
Year9.93595

The temperature of the sea in the southern part of the coast reaches 23.5 °C (74 °F) in August, so, all in all, it remains warm enough to swim in even in the winter season.
Toliara - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2984
February2984
March2983
April2882
May2679
June2576
July2475
August2474
September2475
October2577
November2679
December2882
Year26.279.2

East Coast



East coast
As mentioned, during winter, the south-east trade winds prevail, and they are cool and dry everywhere except along the east coast, where they release the moisture which they have previously picked up over the ocean. For this reason, on the east coast and on the first slopes near the coast, it rains throughout the year, and a tropical forest flourishes there.

Toamasina

In Toamasina (formerly Tamatave), 3,350 millimeters (132 inches) of rain fall per year. In March, which is the rainiest month, rainfall exceeds 400 mm (16 in). The only period when the rains are not too heavy is from September to November, and this is true in general for the entire east coast.
Here is the average precipitation of Toamasina.
Toamasina - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January41016.119
February3801517
March48018.921
April32512.818
May2309.117
June26010.218
July29011.422
August2208.720
September1204.715
October1355.313
November1706.714
December3551417
Year3370132.7211

And here are the average temperatures of Toamasina. You can notice the decrease during the austral winter: in July and August, the daily average is 21.5 °C (70.5 °F).
Toamasina - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January233127.2748881
February233127.2748981
March233126.9738880.5
April223025.9718678.5
May202924.3688375.7
June182722.6658072.7
July172621.5637870.7
August172621.6637970.9
September182722.2648072
October192823.6678274.4
November212925698577
December223126.5728779.7
Year20.328.824.568.583.876

On the east coast, the sun does not shine very often, since the rains are frequent all year round. However, the sunniest season is the winter, from May to August, when the trade winds directly hit the coast, while the sunniest months (albeit slightly) are October and November.
Toamasina - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January7225
February7200
March6190
April6.5195
May6190
June5.5160
July5.5165
August6185
September7210
October7.5235
November8235
December7220
Year6.62410

The temperature of the sea on the east coast is high enough for swimming all year round, although it decreases a bit from July to October, as we can see in the following table.
Toamasina - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2883
February2983
March2883
April2882
May2781
June2678
July2576
August2475
September2476
October2577
November2679
December2882
Year26.579.7

To the north of Toamasina, we find an island, Sainte-Marie, otherwise called Nosy Boraha, which is located in this very rainy area and is covered by forests. Between July and September, the humpback whales that come from the Antarctic seas and congregate for breeding in the channel between the island of Sainte-Marie and the coast of Madagascar, are often observed in a rainy context. Near Île Sainte-Marie, there is another smaller island, Île aux Nattes (or Nosy Nato).

Humpback whales near Ile Sainte-Marie

Along the east coast to the south of Toamasina, precipitation decreases gradually, even though the trend is similar, with rains distributed throughout the year, and a relative minimum in September and October. So, rainfall amounts to 2,500 mm (98 in) in Mahanoro and to 2,100 mm (83 in) in Manakara.

Tolanaro

In the southernmost part of the east coast, in Tolanaro (or Fort Dauphin), rainfall drops to 1,700 mm (67 in) per year; it remains below 200 mm (8 in) in every month, and drops to 75/100 mm (3/4 in) per month from August to October. Here is the average rainfall.
Tolanaro - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1606.311
February1556.112
March1807.112
April1756.912
May1455.711
June1254.910
July1505.910
August1054.18
September742.97
October1003.98
November1505.911
December1656.511
Year168066.1123

Average temperatures in Tôlanaro do not vary by much compared to those of Toamasina, however, the June-August period can be a bit cool for a beach holiday. Here are the average temperatures.
Tolanaro - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January243127.4758881.3
February243127.3748881.1
March233026.8748780.2
April222925.3718477.5
May192723.2668173.8
June172621.7637971.1
July172521627769.8
August172621.7637971
September182722.8658173
October202824.2688375.5
November212925.3708577.6
December233126.8738880.3
Year20.428.524.468.783.376

Since the rains are less frequent in winter, the amount of sunshine in Tolanaro does not decrease much, so there are 7/8 hours of sunshine a day even in the period from June to September.
Tolanaro - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January8.5255
February8220
March7225
April7205
May7225
June7210
July7210
August8240
September8235
October7.5240
November8235
December7.5235
Year7.52740

The sea remains warm enough to swim in even in winter, although it decreases to 23/24 °C (73/75 °F) from June to October.
Tolanaro - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2780
February2781
March2781
April2679
May2577
June2476
July2374
August2373
September2374
October2474
November2476
December2679
Year2577

Inland areas



Inland areas
As mentioned, the climate in the interior of the country is tempered by altitude, at least at intermediate elevations, while above 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), the temperature during winter can drop below freezing (0 °C or 32 °F), especially in the south. In the dry season, a wind that is able to raise dust from the parched ground can sometimes blow on the plateau. On the other hand, in the rainy season, the rains can make it difficult to get around on unpaved roads.
In the interior, there are also mountains. The highest mountain is Maromokotro, 2,876 meters (9,436 feet), located in the north of the island, in the Tsaratanana Massif. On the other hand, in the south, to the south of Fianarantsoa, in the Andringitra National Park, the highest mountains reach around 2,500 meters (8,200 feet).

Antananarivo

The capital, Antananarivo (formerly Tananarive), is located at 1,300 meters (4,300 feet) above sea level, and has a pleasant climate, in fact, the average ranges from 22 °C (71.5 °F) in the summer months to 15 °C (59 °F) in July. Winter is therefore pretty cool. Here, the best months are April, September and October.
Antananarivo - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January172722.2628171.9
February172722.3638172.2
March172721.9628171.5
April152620.8608069.5
May132518.7557665.7
June102216.2507261.1
July92115.2497059.4
August102216497260.8
September112517.7517663.8
October132720.3568168.5
November152821.7598371.1
December172822.4628372.4
Year13.625.619.656.578.167

In Antananarivo, 1,400 mm (55 in) of rain fall per year, most of which occurring from November to March. Here is the average precipitation.
Antananarivo - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January27010.618
February2551017
March1857.317
April5029
May200.86
June70.36
July100.48
August150.69
September100.44
October652.68
November1706.714
December3051220
Year136553.7136

In Antananarivo, the amount of sunshine is moderate; however, it reaches a maximum from September to November.
Antananarivo - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January7210
February6.5180
March6.5200
April7.5220
May7.5230
June7205
July7215
August7.5235
September8.5250
October8250
November8235
December6.5200
Year7.22625

Further south, in Fianarantsoa, at 1,200 meters (3,900 feet), the climate is similar to that of Antananarivo.

Tropical cyclones



In the warm season, Madagascar may be affected by tropical cyclones, which can form in the South-West Indian Ocean from November to mid-May, although they are more likely from late December to mid-April.
Some intense cyclones that hit Madagascar were Gafilo in March 2004, Giovanna in February 2012, Enawo in March 2017, and Idai in march 2019.

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 See also (cities or regions):

 Antananarivo
 Antsiranana
 Fianarantsoa
 Mahajanga
 Morondava
 Nosy Be
 Sainte Marie
 Toamasina
 Tolanaro
 Others (expand)

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