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Weather Overview for Port Louis

Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius on the island’s north-western coast, enjoys a maritime tropical climate. Hot temperatures avoid extremes and there is little seasonal variation in temperature. However, the year can be split into a hot, wet summer, from November till April, and a milder, drier winter from May till October. Port Louis is drier and warmer than southeast of the island. Mauritius sits in the Indian Ocean, to the east of Madagascar off the east coast of Southern Africa. The island is susceptible to hurricanes during the summer; risk is at its highest in January and February.

Summer in Port Louis, from November till April, sees temperatures sidling up from the mid 20s to the high twenties. The average high temperature at the beginning and end of the season is around 26°C, peaking in January and February just below 30°C. Even the sea temperature gets up into the high 20s. Visitors at this time of year will really feel the heat as humidity is at its highest. Night time temperatures remain in the low 20s and visitors will discover new depths of feeling for their air-conditioners. Rainfall begins to increase from the beginning of the season, peaking with the heat. February is the wettest month. Rainfall is typical of tropical islands; it falls in dramatic downpours, often short-lived but incredibly intense. The whole season is prone to hits from tropical cyclones, but the hottest and wettest months are at greatest risk. Anyone travelling to the island should research hurricane activity in the area before they leave; these violent storms can cause devastating damage and do not make for the best holiday experience. All in all the summer season is unpredictable from moment to moment. However, Port Louis is still a great holiday destination in its summer. The heat can be relied upon and due to the brevity of storms the summer actually sees an extra hour of sunshine a day in comparison to the winter; after the rains the sky usually clears. Most of Mauritius’ rain falls on its southern side and central plateau leaving Port Louis relatively dry.

Winter in Port Louis, from May till October, sees a drop in rainfall and an easing off of high temperatures. It is a tropical island and so still receives frequent rain, but the amount that actually falls is greatly reduced. Temperatures at either end of the season are still in the high 20s but begin to relent slightly. The average high temperature is at its lowest in July and August at 23°C. Humidity decreases with rainfall so while the winter does see one hour less of sunshine per day, it is almost certainly the best time to visit. Night times can get quite cool, reaching an average low of 17°C in July. The beginning and end of winter are probably preferable to the July and August, as the 23°C average high in the daytime is not quite as hot as most people hope for their dream tropical holiday.

Port Louis owes its idyllic climate to Mauritius’ southerly position in the Indian Ocean and to Mauritius’ topography. Despite being a small island, Mauritius experiences large regional climate variation. The low coastal areas are usually about 5°C hotter than the elevated central plateau. Port Louis is protected from south-easterly weather fronts by the mountains that circle the plateau. These trap humid air and cause precipitation to form over the south eastside and central plateau.