Hi Ramelak,
on this site:
there are some interesting insights into the Monthly fluctuations in climate on Mauritius but not too much on the climate of each of the 9 Districts of the island, except that the East (and particularly the South East) receives a higher rainfall and is more windy than the West. The extreme North of the island as well as the South are also more exposed to more wind relative to the West.
Introduction
On the islands of Mauritius, the climate is tropical, with a hot and rainy season which reaches its peak from January to March, and a relatively cooler and less rainy season from June to September. In fact, being that the islands are in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are reversed in comparison with Europe or North America. The rains, as is common in the tropics, occur primarily in the form of downpours or thunderstorms, which usually do not last long, so the sun shines for a good number of hours even in the wettest months.
The archipelago is located in the zone of the trade winds, constant winds which in this hemisphere blow from the south-east, especially in the cool season.
Main island
The main island is located at a latitude of 20 degrees south, so it's not far from the Tropic of Capricorn. The island is hilly in the interior, and the highest point is Piton de la Petite Rivi猫re Noire, 800 meters (2,600 feet) high.
In inland elevations, rainfall increases, while along the coast it rains a bit less, and there is also a difference between the two sides, in fact, annual precipitation ranges from 1,200 millimeters (47 inches) on the north-west coast to 1,700 mm (67 in) on the south-east coast, which is directly affected by the trade winds.
In particular, in the cool season, showers are more frequent on the east side (see Plaisance) than in the west one (see Port Louis).
The rainiest months are January, February and March, when more than 200 mm (8 in) fall per month.
Here is the average precipitation of Plaisance, where the airport is located, on the south-east coast of the main island.
Plaisance - Average precipitation
Month聽 聽聽 聽 聽 聽 聽Jan聽 聽 Feb聽 聽 Mar聽 聽 Apr聽 聽 May Jun聽 聽 Jul聽 Aug聽 聽 Sep聽 聽 Oct聽 聽 Nov聽 聽 Dec聽 聽聽 聽Year
Prec.(mm)聽 聽 235聽 聽 265聽 聽 205聽 聽 210聽 聽 155聽 聽 95聽 聽 100聽 聽 90聽 聽 60聽 聽 60聽 聽 75聽 聽 170聽 聽聽 聽1720
Prec.(in)聽 聽聽 聽 聽 聽 聽9.3 10.4聽 聽聽 8.1聽 聽 8.3聽 聽聽 6.1聽 聽 3.7聽 聽 3.9聽 聽 3.5聽 聽 2.4聽 聽 2.4聽 聽聽 3聽 聽 6.7聽 聽聽 聽67.7
Days聽 聽聽 聽 聽 聽 聽16聽 聽 16聽 聽 17聽 聽 17聽 聽 14聽 聽 14聽 聽 16聽 聽 15聽 聽 10聽 聽 10聽 聽 10聽 聽 12聽 聽聽 聽167
On the main island, at least at sea level, the average maximum temperature is around 29/30 掳C (84/86 掳F) across the island from December to March, while from June to September it drops to 24/25 掳C (75/77 掳F) on the southeastern side (see Plaisance), and only to around 26/27 掳C (79/81 掳F) in the north and west sides, which are more sheltered from the south-east trade winds.
Here are the average temperatures in Plaisance.
Plaisance - Average temperatures
Month聽 聽 Jan聽 聽 Feb聽 聽 Mar聽 聽 Apr聽 聽 May Jun聽 聽 Jul聽 聽 Aug聽 聽 Sep聽 聽 Oct聽 聽 Nov聽 聽 Dec
Min (掳C)聽 聽 23聽 聽 23聽 聽 23聽 聽 22聽 聽 20聽 聽 19聽 聽 18聽 聽 18聽 聽 18聽 聽 19聽 聽 20聽 聽 22
Max (掳C)聽 聽 30聽 聽 30聽 聽 29聽 聽 28聽 聽 27聽 聽 25聽 聽 24聽 聽 24聽 聽 25聽 聽 26聽 聽 28聽 聽 29
Min (掳F)聽 聽 73聽 聽 73聽 聽 73聽 聽 72聽 聽 68聽 聽 66聽 聽 64聽 聽 64聽 聽 64聽 聽 66聽 聽 68聽 聽 72
Max (掳F)聽 聽 86聽 聽 86聽 聽 84聽 聽 82聽 聽 81聽 聽 77聽 聽 75聽 聽 75聽 聽 77聽 聽 79聽 聽 82聽 聽 84
The amount of sunshine is not great, nor poor, which reflects the fact that the rains may be intense, but do not last long. On the north and west sides of the island, the amount of sunshine is decent and stable, in fact, there are 7-8 hours of sunshine per day throughout the year. On the south and east sides, instead, the least sunny period is winter, when they are directly affected by the trade winds, as we can see from the data of Plaisance.
Plaisance - Sunshine
Month聽 聽 Jan聽 聽 Feb聽 聽 Mar聽 聽 Apr聽 聽 May Jun聽 聽 Jul聽 聽 Aug聽 聽 Sep聽 聽 Oct聽 聽 Nov聽 聽 Dec
Hours聽 聽 8聽 聽 7聽 聽 7聽 聽 6聽 聽 7聽 聽 6聽 聽 6聽 聽 6聽 聽 7聽 聽 8聽 聽 9聽 聽 8
The sea temperature on the main island is high enough for swimming all year round, although it drops to 23/24 掳C (73/75 掳F) from July to October.
Port Louis - Sea temperature
Month聽 聽聽 聽 聽 聽 聽Jan聽 聽 Feb聽 聽 Mar聽 聽 Apr聽 聽 May Jun聽 聽 Jul聽 聽Aug聽 聽 Sep聽 聽 Oct聽 聽 Nov聽 聽 Dec
Temp (掳C)聽 聽 27聽 聽 28聽 聽 27聽 聽 27聽 聽 26聽 聽 25聽 聽 24聽 聽 23聽 聽 23聽 聽 24聽 聽 25聽 聽 27
Temp (掳F)聽 聽 81聽 聽 82聽 聽 81聽 聽 81聽 聽 79聽 聽 77聽 聽 75聽 聽 73聽 聽 73聽 聽 75聽 聽 77聽 聽 81
Tropical cyclones
The Mauritius are in the path of tropical cyclones, whose official season runs from November 1 to May 15, although they are more frequent from late December to mid-April. Some particularly intense cyclones that struck the islands were Claudette in December 1979, Daniella in December 1996, Hollanda in February 1994, and Dina in February 2002.
Best Time
The best times to visit the main island of Mauritius are the second half of May and the month of October.
From June to August, and a little less in September, ie in the Southern Hemisphere winter, the weather can get a little cool, and clouds alternate with the sun, with some brief showers. In this period, you can go hiking or you can visit the many attractions of the island (Pamplemousses, Chamarel, Grand Bassin, 脦le aux Cerfs etc.) with more ease. For swimming and sunbathing, given that the wind blows steadily from the southeast, it is preferable to choose a beach along the north-west coast, on the same side as Port Louis, which is more sheltered and more sunny (but not in the northernmost tip, which is windy as well). On the contrary, surfers will appreciate exactly the wind that blows in this period.
In December, it is hot and nature is in bloom, the air is humid and the rainy season has already begun, but the amount of sunshine is still acceptable. However, in November the cyclone season begins, and this is a threat to be reckoned with, though cyclones rarely hit a particular location.
From January to March, not only the rains are frequent, but also the air is humid, so the heat is definitely muggy.
In winter, Rodrigues Island has a slightly better climate, in fact, it is a little less cool and rainy. It goes even better on the more northern islands of Saint Brandon, and even more on the almost equatorial islands of Agal茅ga.
What to pack
In winter (June to August): bring light clothes, a sweatshirt or sweater and a light jacket for the evening, a scarf for the breeze, a raincoat. When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes.
In summer (December to February): bring tropics-friendly, loose-fitting clothing, light shirts and pants of natural fibers (cotton, linen), a light sweatshirt for the evening, a light raincoat or umbrella for the rain showers.
