Kuramathi is a 2 kilometre long island located in a small six island atoll that lies in the middle of the Republic of Maldives. Maldives is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, south-west of India and Sri Lanka, which lies just north of the equator. Kuramathi is situated 56 kilometres south-west of the Maldivian capital, Mal©. The island has only a small permanent population of about 839 people, but is often host to many tourists who come to stay at the resort, enjoy the warm tropical weather and beautiful beaches, and observe the exotic marine flora.
Climate
Kuramathi has a tropical climate with warm ambient and sea temperatures that vary little year-round. There are really only two seasons in Kuramathi: wet and dry. The monsoon season usually begins in May and ends in November. While there is a great deal of precipitation during this period, it does not significantly affect the temperature, although the hottest period is at the end of the dry season. Since Kuramathi is situated particularly close to the equator, there is no perceptible change in the amount of daylight throughout the year. Each day receives 12 hours of sunlight, the only mediating factor being cloud cover. Being so near to the equator, Kuramathi rarely experiences severe storms. However, the Maldivesâ long term future as a whole is threatened by the spectre of rising sea levels as a result of global climate change.
The Rainy Season
The monsoon season usually comes to Kuramathi in the month of May, dropping an average of 211mm of rain over a period of fourteen to sixteen rainy days. May is also one of the hottest months, with a mean temperature of 28.5C, a high of 31C, and a low of 26C. As a result of the high heat and all the rain, there is a great deal of humidity in May. Swimming will be a very attractive activity in which to indulge, however, it wonât be likely to relieve any stress from the heat, as the sea temperature is a remarkably high 30C. The average wind speed is 20 kilometres per hour.
The mean temperature of June is 28.3C, with a high of 30.5C, and a low of 26C. The average amount of precipitation is 183mm of rain, distributed over twelve to fourteen days. The average wind speed is 29 kilometres per hour.
July brings a little bit of relief from the humidity, which decreases slightly. 161mm of precipitation can be expected to fall over Kuramathi, over the course of eleven to thirteen days. The average sea temperature is 29C. The average ambient temperature is 28C, with a high of 30.4C, and a low of 25.6C.
The average amount of rain jumps back up a little bit in August, with 183mm falling over twelve to fourteen days. The mean temperature is 27.8C, with highs and lows of 30.2C and 25.5C, respectively. The average wind speed decreases a small amount, to 17 kilometres per hour.
The average sea temperature in September is 29C, while the average ambient temperature is 27.5C, with highs of 30C and lows of 25C. September receives an average amount of 213mm of precipitation over the course of fifteen rainy days.
October is regularly the rainiest month in Kuramathi. The average amount of precipitation for this month is 229mm, which falls over the course of fourteen to sixteen days. The mean temperature is 27.5C, with highs and lows of 30C and 25C, respectively. The average sea temperature drops one degree to 28C.
In November, the monsoon season begins to tail off a bit, though there is still a considerable amount of rain, 192mm delivered from the skies over thirteen days. The mean temperature is the same as in October; 27.5C, with highs of 30C and lows of 25C. The average wind speed drops to a very still 15 kilometres per hour.
Neither the weather, nor the temperature, change all that much in Kuramathi, as evidenced by the fact that Decemberâs averages are identical to the previous few months preceding it: a mean of 27.5C, a high of 30C, and a low of 25C. By the end of December, the dry season has begun, but the month still manages to squeeze in 198mm of precipitation over the course of eleven to thirteen rainy days. The average wind speed jumps back up to 20 kilometres per hour and the average sea temperature is once again 28C.
The Dry Season
The New Year in Kuramathi begins with the windiest month; January has an average wind speed of 22 kilometres per hour, which is relatively still quite calm. The ambient temperatures remain unchanged â"a mean of 27.5C, a low of 25C, and a high of 30Câ" but the amount of precipitation drops considerably. January experiences only four or five rainy days, which distribute about 90mm of rainfall. The average sea temperature is 28C.
February is the driest month of the year in Kuramathi. Only 68mm of precipitation falls over three to five days rainy days. The average wind speed drops a bit to 18 kilometres per hour. While the average sea temperature remains unchanged â"28Câ" the ambient temperature finally budges, one whole degree to a mean of 28.5C, with a low of 26C, and a high of 31C. February is also the last month with a moderately high degree of humidity, before the stretch of months with very high humidity begins in March.
The average wind speed decreases a little more in March, to 14 kilometres per hour. With the increased stillness comes a lack of a breeze to give relief from the humidity, which becomes rather prominent this month. The mean, low, and high temperatures in March are the same as in February, but the average sea temperature increases one degree to 29C. March sees about 81mm of precipitation over six to eight days.
April is the least windy month in Kuramathi, with an average wind speed of 13 kilometres per hour. April experiences 129mm of rain over nine or ten days. The mean temperature is 29C, with a low of 26C, and a high of 32C, making April the hottest month of the year.