You wonder if Is a trip to Reunion during the rainy season (southern summer, from November to April) possible? Is there a risk for travelers? What months should you avoid? In this article, I give you all the information over this period to help you plan your stay.
What is the climate like in Reunion?
Reunion is an island that is part of the French overseas territories, 9,000 km from the mainland. It is located to the east of Madagascar and to the south of Mauritius, heart of the Indian Ocean.
The climate in Réunion is humid tropical, which means humidity is present throughout the year. We find there two marked seasons:
- there rainy season, also called “southern summer”, between November and April
- there dry season, also called “southern winter”, between May and November
However, Reunion Island measures 2,512 km² and therefore experiences significant climate differences from one region to another. The island welcomes in the center the Piton des Neiges massif (3,070 m), its cirques (Mafate, Salazie and Cilaos) but also the Piton de la Fournaise which are located at medium and high altitude. Thus, the influence of relief is very important in the occurrence of bad weather in Reunion.
Generally, the west of the island is considered to experience very little precipitation and lots of sunshine all year round. On the other hand, in the east and particularly in the southeast of the island, rainfall is still high. It can reach 10 meters per year, which represents one of the highest values on a global scale. It is the oceanic influence and the trade winds which expose the eastern part of Reunion to this rain. The west is protected from disturbances by the interior reliefs.
Climate details in Réunion:
Temperature-wise, it's good all year round in Reunion. THE average temperatures vary from 24 to 33°C. However, when you go up towards the reliefs, they are more between 15 and 0°C depending on the period. It will therefore be necessary bring suitable clothing to go to the Piton de la Fournaise volcano or to hike in the cirques. In addition, swimming is still possible in the waters bordering Reunion and the sun is widely present, even during the rainy season.
We consider that the dry season, from May to November, is the ideal period for a trip to Reunion Island. There are blue skies, sunshine and few showers. But Is the rainy season in Reunion necessarily to be avoided? Explanations.
The rainy season in Reunion actually starts in January and ends at the end of March. April and December are transition months between the two seasons. They are often arched by intense rains. But it happens that, on the contrary, dry and sunny weather is present there.
During the rainy season, there is, as its name suggests, heavy rainfall. To give you an idea, know that we are counting 16 days without rain in July compared to 8 days in January. But be careful nonetheless, the rain is generally short-lived (a few minutes to an hour) and the sun returns immediately after the downpour. It is rare to experience several days of rain in a row in Reunion, even during the southern summer.
It is generally February is the wettest month of the year throughout the territory. On the other hand, in the west of the island, it is especially the month of January which experiences significant rainfall. And the rain slowly stops in March in this region. While that in the east, the month of March sees more rain than the month of January.
The wet season in practice
The rainy season in Reunion is also the hottest season of the year. The temperature is around 30°C on average and often rises to 40°C in the hottest part of the day. The air is often filled with humidity, which can be burdensome when practicing certain activities while traveling.
When wondering whether you should avoid the rainy season in Reunion at all costs for your trip, you must remember that the island has a tropical climate. We can therefore be surprised by a downpour during any time of the year. However, it is not uncommon for the sun to return a few minutes later. Furthermore, in the east of the island, towards Sainte Rose in particular, there are many rainy days.
What characterizes the rainy season in Reunion is therefore above all a greater amount of rain. The rain falls suddenly, in the form of torrential rains, sometimes accompanied by winds. However, it does not rain throughout the day and the temperature remains high during these rainy periods.
Risks during the rainy season in Reunion
The rainy season is not just about more rainfall. There are also other inconveniences, including the risk of cyclones.
A cyclone corresponds to a very strong depression which arises above the warm waters of the ocean, accompanied by violent winds. It brings torrential rain and gusts of up to 300 km/h.
The cyclonic period in Reunion is between November and April, so it follows the rainy season. Although cyclones do not occur every year on the island, they are quite common and mark Thus the lives of the inhabitants. THE more deadly and devastating took place in 1948, 1962 (Jenny), 1980 (Hyacinthe), but also in 2002 (Dina) and in 2007 (Gamède). More recently, in January 2018, tropical storm Berguitta caused significant damage to the island, particularly to road infrastructure.
Fear of the cyclone: a significant risk?
The fear of experiencing a cyclone can be present when you want to travel during the rainy season in Reunion. However, fear should not dominate travelers and prevent them at all costs from choosing this period for a stay. Currently, most constructions on the island are made against the risk of cyclones and information to the population is very well done in the event of an imminent risk. This contributes to having fewer and fewer victims.
In addition, Reunion experiences other natural risks regardless of the rainy season:
- The volcanic eruption : the Piton de la Fournaise erupts approximately twice a year, without causing human or material damage. However, its behavior in the coming years is unpredictable.
- The sharks : Reunion is the region in the world most affected by shark attacks. There are several fatal accidents each year on the island. However, safe swimming areas have been created and the lagoon, present over a large western part of the island, allows swimming in complete safety.
Thus, travel in general confronts us with all kinds of risks, which do not always depend on the weather. It would therefore be a shame to deprive yourself of discovering this “intense island” simply because of the cyclonic risk.
What to do during the rainy season in Reunion? Is it possible to travel?
To summarize, travelers who will turn to the rainy season to discover Reunion will certainly experience showers, but it is not certain that those who travel during the dry season will not face it.
The rainy season in Reunion is a hot and humid period, when it is possible to travel. We will find milder temperatures in the mountainswhich will allow enthusiasts to practice hiking. However, the hottest period of the day between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. should be avoided. Also, we will appreciate the seaside and the beaches even more during the austral summer. This, thanks to the sea breeze which allows you to feel less of the heaviness of the air.
Finally, it is a good time to discover the traditional festivals of Reunion. For example, you can attend the fire walk. It is a Tamil ceremony to the glory of the goddess Pandialé. It takes place in the evening on the seaside. You can also discover the various New Years (Chinese, Tamil, etc.) from January to April.
What advice for traveling during the rainy season in Reunion?
Traveling during the southern summer to Reunion Island is not to be avoided. Although February is the wettest month, December, January, March and April are often good options for a trip. Temperatures are high. Swimming is possible and showers generally do not last long.
During the rainy season in Reunion, we can take advantage of a less touristy season, at competitive rates. Keep in mind that some activities may be limited, but in general, this period will not prevent you from discovering the island.
You now have all the information on the rainy season in Reunion. Have you already experienced this season in Reunion? Do not hesitate to complete this article by explaining how your trip to Reunion went during the austral summer.
