In a nation that is more sea than land (less than one per cent of the Maldives is land), the weather obviously plays a significant role in day to day life. Since earliest times, the Maldivian people have organized their lives around a calendar of nakaiy - a series of 13 or 14 day intervals, each with a predictable weather pattern.Every year brings two monsoons, iruvai (the north-east monsoon) and hulhangu (the south-west monsoon). To a visitor, this simply means the hot and dry season (iruvai) and the hot and west season (huhangu).

But to the Maldivian people, each monsoon means a series of nakaiy which determine lifestyles for the next six months. This calendar is still used today to determine the best times to fish, travel or cultivate crops. Some people even use it before planning a marriage or building a house. It is said, for example, that children born in Maa amkaiy will attain high stations in life and that those born in Uthura nakaiy will be deeply religious.

The nakaiy calendar goes something like this:

Iruvai
Dec 10 – Dec 22	Mula	Strong winds, rough seas. Fishing in the north is good
Dec 23 – Jan 5	Furahalha	Strong north easterly winds, rough seas. A good fishing season in the north
Jan 6 – Jan 18	Uthurahalha	Clear blue skies, strong winds and rough seas
Jan 19 – Jan 31	Huvan	Calm seas, blue skies. Fishing in the east is good.
Feb 1 – Feb 13	Dhinasha	North-easterly winds, moderate seas, plenty of sunshine
Feb 14 – Feb 26	Hiyaviha	Seas are calm, days and nights are hot.
Feb 27 – Mar 11	Furabadhuruva	Frequent, short sharp bursts of thunder and lightning. Small plants and bushes are cut down, left to dry and then burnt
Mar 12 – Mar 25	Fasbadhuruva	Usually clear blue skies. If thunder is frequent during this period, local lore says the yam harvest will be good for the year
Mar 26 – Apr 7	Reyva	If storms occur they may be severe. Fishing is good in the north. Some trees are cut down and burnt.
Hulhangu
Apr 8 – Apr 21	Assidha	Begins with a storm, then becomes hot and dry. People allow themselves to be wet by the first rains, believing it will bring them good luck. Fishing is poor, millet and trees are planted.
Apr 22 – May 5	Burunu	Begins with a storm and strong winds, then becomes calm. Fields are cleared, trees chopped and seeds sown.
May 6 – May 19	Kethi	Dark clouds, frequent rains. Dried leaves are burnt and the ashes spread over the fields. Sowing continues.
May 20 – Jun 2	Roanu	Storms, strong winds and rough seas. Fields are sown on some islands during this period
Jun 3 – Jun 16	Miyahelia	Storms, rough seas and strong westerly winds. Fields are sown and weeded.
Jun 17 – Jun 30	Adha	South westerly winds, light rain and schools of fish. Fields are weeded and transplanted.
Jul 1 – Jul 14	Funoas	Storms and rough seas with frequent sudden gales. Weeding and transplanting continues.
Jul 15 – Jul 28	Fus	Wet and overcast. Fishing is good.
Jul 29 – Aug 10	Ahuliha	Less Frequent storms, calmer days. Grain harvests are reaped.
Aug 11 – Aug 23	Maa	Generally calm. Harvesting continues.
Aug 24 – Sept 6	Fura	Isolated showers, usually dry with light north westerly winds. Harvesting continues.
Sep 7 – Sep 20	Uthura	Strong north westerly winds, isolated showers
Sept 21 – Oct 3	Atha	Generally clear and calm with isolated showers
Oct 4 – Oct 17	Hitha	Light winds and isolated showers
Oct 18 – Oct 30	Hey	Strong winds from all directions.Fishing is excellent and the markets are filled with large tuna.
Nov 1 – Nov 13	Viha	Calm days. Fishing is good.
Nov 14 – Nov 26	Nora	Light winds, some sun showers. Sea current are unsettled as the north-east monsoon approaches
Nov 27 – Dec 9	Dosha	Light north-easterly winds. Good fishing.
In tourist jargon, the seasons are described as ‘high’ and ‘low’. From November through to April, tourists flock to the islands to enjoy clear blue skies and tropical sunshine. From May until October, the weather can be temperamental – a mixed bag of sunshine, showers and storms – and tourist prices are slashed to entice visitors in spite of the weather.
Year round the temperature rarely falls below 25degC most often settling around 30degC. Annual rainfall is approximately 1750mm with monthly figures as shown in the graph below