Is Winter Finally Over in Mauritius? What the Data Shows
As September draws to a close, Mauritius sees warmer coastal afternoons but cool highland nights — and surprisingly high rainfall for a dry season.
By MauritiusNews Editorialabout 2 hours ago👁 0 views
Mauritius does not follow the four-season calendar familiar to much of the world. Instead, the island operates on two distinct seasons: a hot, humid summer running from November to April, and a cooler, drier austral winter from May to October. As late September arrives, many residents are asking: is winter finally winding down?
The answer, according to recent data from the Mauritius Meteorological Services, is: almost — but not quite.
**Warm afternoons, cool nights**
Along the coast, afternoons are beginning to warm noticeably, a reliable sign that the seasonal transition is underway. But on the Central Plateau — the elevated inland region that includes towns like Vacoas, Curepipe, and Quatre Bornes — mornings and nights remain distinctly cool. For many Mauritians living inland, the jumper is not yet packed away.
**A surprisingly wet end to the dry season**
What has caught meteorologists' attention this year is the rainfall. Figures published on 20 September 2026 by the Mauritius Meteorological Services show that the first half of September ranked as the fourth wettest opening fortnight of September in the past 20 years — a striking result for a period that is normally among the driest of the year.
Between 1 and 15 September 2026, the Central Plateau recorded 78 mm of rainfall — equivalent to 122% of its long-term average for that period. Even more notable was the North of the island, which registered 43 mm, representing 215% of its usual figure and the highest surplus recorded anywhere on the island during that stretch.
The Vacoas meteorological station, located on the Central Plateau and the country's primary reference point for climate data, provided the baseline figures used in this assessment.
**What this means**
For everyday Mauritians, the transition out of winter brings welcome relief from the cold snaps that regularly push temperatures on the Plateau below 15°C at night. It also signals the gradual return of longer, sunnier days.
However, the above-average rainfall seen in early September is a reminder that Mauritius's weather does not always follow a neat script. Climate variability means that even traditionally dry periods can deliver significant rain, which has implications for agriculture, water reservoir levels, and outdoor activities.
For tourists and visitors planning trips in late September and October, conditions are generally pleasant — warm but not yet the intense heat and humidity of full summer. The transition period is often considered one of the most comfortable times to visit the island.
The austral summer, with its associated risk of tropical cyclones, officially begins in November — giving residents and authorities a few more weeks before the cyclone season watch begins.
Source: ION News
Frequently Asked Questions
When does winter end in Mauritius?−
Mauritius has two main seasons: an austral winter from May to October, and a hot, humid summer from November to April. Winter typically ends in late October, with temperatures on the Central Plateau (around Vacoas and Curepipe) gradually rising through September and October before the summer heat sets in.
How much rainfall did Mauritius receive in early September 2026?−
According to the Mauritius Meteorological Services, the Central Plateau recorded 78 mm of rain in the first half of September 2026 — 122% of the long-term average. The North of the island saw the biggest surplus, with 43 mm representing 215% of its normal figure for that period.
Is late September a good time to visit Mauritius?−
Yes. Late September and October fall during Mauritius's seasonal transition, offering warm but not excessively hot weather. It is generally considered a comfortable time to visit, before the humidity and cyclone risk of the summer season (November–April) begins.
