Port Louis - Post Report Question and Answers

Mauritius has an "island paradise" reputation but it's really far more varied than that in terms of climate. This small island has two distinct seasons and two distinct climates; elevation makes a huge difference. The hotter season runs from about October through April, with the rest of the year being several degrees cooler. At the hottest point, the thermometer said about 85F in January, but it felt much hotter -- the sun just seems stronger here. We wear sweatshirts in the evening, but it's nowhere close to chilly during the cooler months. For the cooler months, think springtime in DC. Our friends living nearby on a hilltop, however, never get too hot because of the near-contant breezes they get. Even more drastic is the difference on the central plateau (south and east of Port Louis). They get a lot more rain and clouds in the hotter months and it gets downright chilly during the cooler months. I rarely wear a jacket and tie at work but I'm told it's necessary at the July 4th reception down south because it gets so cold at night. You'll even see guys in puffy winter coats on their motorcycles occasionally. With scarves. And gloves. We are in the cyclone belt so there are a few warnIngs (and maybe a few days off from school and work) around the New Year. There hasn't been a catastrophic cyclone hit in a long time. Most homes have storm shutters and are built of concrete, so all you really deal with is a lot of wind, rain, and some fallen branches or trees. - Jun 2014

Lovely weather year-round. Some micro climates that can be refreshing if you want a change of weather. - Feb 2009