Fall in Praslin, Seychelles usually brings steady warmth, high humidity, and a mix of sun and showers. Daytime temperatures hover between 77°F and 87°F, and the sea sits near 84°F, so you can swim year-round without a second thought.
The season doesn’t bring dramatic changes, but you’ll notice breezier days and a bit less rain compared to the wetter start of the year.
Skies often stay partly cloudy or overcast, but the odds of rain drop as fall goes on. Winds pick up too, especially later in the season, bringing a refreshing touch to the humid air.
These shifts can really shape your outdoor plans, whether you’re hoping for lazy beach days or want to wander Praslin’s inland trails.
If you know what to expect, you’ll plan better—whether you want calm seas for snorkeling, cooler evenings for hiking, or just lighter rain for sightseeing. Let’s break down the details: temperature, rainfall, cloud cover, and other weather quirks, so you can really make the most of Praslin Island.
Overview of Fall Weather in Praslin
During fall, Praslin Island sees steady warmth, plenty of humidity, and lots of cloud cover. Rainfall drops off bit by bit, while winds get stronger and change direction, shaping both the weather and your travel experience.
Key Climate Characteristics
In fall, daily highs on Praslin Island average about 86°F (30°C), and lows settle near 78°F (25–26°C). You’ll rarely see numbers outside that range, so days and nights feel reliably warm.
Humidity stays stubbornly high, often at 100% muggy conditions, which makes the air feel heavy and damp. Skies are usually overcast or mostly cloudy about 63% of the time. Still, you’ll catch a clear day now and then, especially early in the season.
Rainfall drops as fall moves along. At Praslin Island Airport, the chance of a wet day falls from about 34% in March to 24% by May. Average monthly rainfall shifts from 3.1 inches to 2.2 inches, so showers get less frequent toward the end of fall.
Winds really start to pick up. Average speeds rise from 8.7 mph in early fall to almost 14 mph by late May. The wind direction changes too—north to west, then east, then south, depending on the month.
How Fall Differs From Other Seasons
Compared to the rainy season from December to March, fall feels less wet and is way better for outdoor fun. Showers still happen, but they’re shorter and not as intense as during the peak monsoon.
The dry season runs from May to October and overlaps with late fall. During this stretch, you’ll feel stronger southeast trade winds, and big downpours are rare. Late fall is a bit of a transition—less rain, but windier, so some water activities might get tricky.
Unlike winter, when cloud cover peaks, fall gives you a few more chances for clearer skies. Daylight hours barely change, and the sea stays warm, averaging 84–85°F (29°C), so swimming and snorkeling are always on the table.
Best Time to Visit in Autumn
If you want less rain, the back half of fall is your best bet. By May, rainy days are fewer, and you’ll get longer dry spells. The southeast trade winds start up around now, cooling things off just a bit.
Early fall (March) still brings more rain and humidity, but temperatures don’t really budge. That’s great if you like lush green landscapes and don’t mind getting caught in the occasional shower.
Late fall is better for beach time, diving, and island exploring, though the stronger winds might mess with sailing or boat trips. If you want warm seas, less rain, and manageable winds, April to May is probably the sweet spot for a fall visit to Praslin.
Temperature Patterns During Fall
Fall in Praslin means steady warmth with barely any difference between day and night. Humidity stays high, so the air feels muggy most of the time. Rainfall drops off as the season goes on, but temperatures barely budge, making humidity more important for comfort than the actual heat.
Average Daily Highs and Lows
During fall, temperatures at Praslin Island Airport don’t swing much. Highs land around 86°F (30°C), rarely dipping below 82°F (28°C) or climbing above 89°F (32°C).
Lows stick close to 78°F (25–26°C) with only tiny shifts. Early March is usually the warmest, and late May is just a touch cooler. With less than a 10°F gap between highs and lows, the day never feels all that different from the night.
You’ll want light clothes all year, but the humidity keeps things feeling heavy, especially after sunset. Don’t expect crisp mornings or cool evenings here—this isn’t a temperate climate.
Hourly Temperature Variations
If you look at hourly averages, temperatures barely move through the day. From sunrise to early afternoon, things only warm up a few degrees, peaking in the mid-80s°F. By evening, it cools off just a little, but you’re still in the upper 70s°F.
No sharp midday heat, no sudden nighttime chill. The average hourly temperature stays in that warm to comfortable zone, and you’ll almost never feel a real chill.
The sea around Praslin helps keep things steady. Water temperatures hover near 84°F (29°C), so extremes just don’t happen. For travelers, this means you can expect pretty much the same weather, no matter what time of day you head out.
Temperature Bands and Comfort Levels
Most fall days fall into the warm (75–85°F) range, with a few hours nudging into the hot (85–95°F) band. Cooler weather below 70°F just doesn’t show up.
Humidity has a bigger impact on comfort. The dew point stays high, so it’s muggy almost all the time. Sweat doesn’t evaporate quickly, which makes the air feel heavier than what the thermometer says.
Humidity comfort levels:
- Comfortable (rare): <65°F dew point
- Humid: 65–70°F
- Muggy to oppressive: >70°F (which is most of the time in Praslin)
So, expect it to feel warm and sticky, even if the actual temperature doesn’t sound extreme.
Rainfall and Precipitation Trends
You’ll get frequent rainfall during fall in Praslin, but the amount and intensity change as the season rolls on. The tropical climate brings steady moisture, with wet days scattered across most weeks and rain showing up as quick showers or brief downpours.
Monthly Rainfall Totals
Rainfall stays pretty steady in fall, but the numbers do shift month to month. September usually sees about 110–130 mm of rain. October bumps up to 140–160 mm, and November gets wetter, averaging 170–200 mm.
This uptick hints at the wetter season coming in December and January. Even in September, you’ll get measurable rain most weeks, though showers are usually quick and less intense than later in the year.
Temperatures hold steady between 27–29°C, so rain usually falls as warm, humid tropical showers. By November, things get noticeably wetter.
| Month | Avg. Rainfall (mm) | Rainy Days (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| September | 110–130 | 14–16 |
| October | 140–160 | 15–17 |
| November | 170–200 | 16–18 |
Chance of Wet Days
A wet day in Praslin means at least 0.2 mm of rain. In fall, your odds of hitting a wet day go up steadily. September brings rain about half the days, and by November, you’re looking at rain on nearly two-thirds of the days.
Rain usually doesn’t last all day. Most of the time, it’s a quick but heavy shower, especially in the afternoon or evening. You can still plan to be outdoors, but it’s smart to keep your schedule flexible.
Humidity climbs as rain increases, and by late fall, nights can feel especially muggy when breezes die down.
Types of Precipitation
Rain is pretty much the only game in town in Praslin’s tropical climate. You won’t see snow or ice. Instead, rain comes in a few familiar forms:
- Light showers: Short and scattered, often in the morning.
- Moderate rain: Steady, lasting an hour or two.
- Heavy downpours: Quick, intense bursts with lots of rain in a short time.
Thunderstorms sometimes pop up, especially in October and November, but they’re usually local and move on fast. Rain can be hit-or-miss—one part of the island might be dry while another gets soaked.
This variety in rainfall means you’ll want to pack rain gear and stay flexible with your plans.
Cloud Cover and Sunlight
During the fall months in Praslin, you’ll mostly see cloudy skies, and daylight doesn’t change much. Sunrises and sunsets shift slowly, with long twilight periods that stretch the day a bit.
Frequency of Overcast and Mostly Cloudy Days
Cloud cover holds steady through fall. About 63% of the time, skies are overcast or mostly cloudy. So, you’ll get filtered sunlight more often than not.
The clearest patch comes in early April, when cloud cover dips to around 59%. On that day, you might see clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy skies about 41% of the time.
For reference, the cloudiest stretch is in January, with overcast skies about 73% of the time. So, fall is less cloudy than the peak wet season, but don’t count on endless sunshine.
If you’re planning outdoor adventures, expect a mix of bright spells and shaded skies—rarely just blazing sun all day.
Average Hours of Daylight
Daylight hours shrink a bit through fall. At the start, you get about 12 hours and 11 minutes of daylight. By late May, that drops to 11 hours and 53 minutes.
You lose about 12 seconds of daylight each day. Over a week, that’s just over a minute—so, honestly, you probably won’t notice much change day to day.
This makes it easy to plan—day and night stay almost equal all season, with just tiny shifts as the weeks pass.
Sunrise, Sunset, and Twilight
Sunrise and sunset times change slowly too. Early in fall, the sun comes up around 6:23 AM and sets near 6:35 PM. By late May, sunrise moves to 6:15 AM, and sunset slides to about 6:11 PM.
Twilight stretches out the daylight a bit, adding 20–30 minutes before sunrise and after sunset. That gives you extra usable light even when the sun isn’t up.
The sun sits fairly high at midday, so even on cloudy days, things stay bright enough to see well. Direct sunshine might be rare, but visibility for outdoor plans is usually solid.
Humidity, Wind, and Sea Conditions
In fall, Praslin’s air feels warm and damp, with steady breezes adding some comfort on land and at sea. Sea temperatures stay high, so swimming and snorkeling are always on the menu.
Humidity Levels and Dew Point
You’ll notice high humidity in Praslin during fall, usually somewhere between 75% and 85%. Afternoons can feel especially heavy and sticky, while mornings and evenings bring a little relief, though the air almost never feels dry.
The dew point tends to hover around 24–26°C, so the air holds a lot of moisture. When dew points run this high, your sweat doesn’t evaporate quickly, which makes you feel even warmer than the thermometer says.
Rainy days push humidity even higher, especially in October and November when showers show up more often. If you don’t love muggy weather, you might want to get outside earlier when it’s a bit cooler and less humid.
Prevailing Wind Speed and Direction
Fall really feels like a shift between the southeast trade winds of mid-year and the lighter northwest monsoon winds that start up closer to December. In September, you’ll often catch southeasterly winds blowing at about 15–20 km/h, which helps keep things breezy and the evenings a bit cooler.
By October and November, the winds calm down and start drifting in from the northwest. Wind speeds drop to around 10–15 km/h, so everything feels quieter on land and at sea.
This shift in wind direction can change sea conditions, too. The southeast coast gets choppier water in September, but later in the season, the northern and western coasts turn calmer. If you’re planning to go boating or diving, it’s a good idea to check local forecasts for the latest wind updates.
Water Temperature for Swimming
The sea temperature around Praslin in fall stays warm and welcoming. In September, the water averages about 27°C, and by November it creeps up to 28–29°C. You won’t need a wetsuit for swimming, snorkeling, or diving—just jump in.
The ocean stays pretty clear for most of the season, especially in September and October when rain isn’t too intense. November’s heavier showers can cloud things up, but the water keeps its warmth.
Since the sea almost never drops below 27°C, you can spend a long time swimming without getting cold. That kind of consistency makes fall a great time for water activities.
Geography, Environment, and Data Sources
Praslin’s weather patterns really tie back to its geography and how people measure the climate over time. Location, terrain, and plant life all play a part in what you experience, and reliable data comes from standardized observation.
Geographical Coordinates and Elevation
Praslin sits in the Indian Ocean at about 4.3°S latitude and 55.7°E longitude, northeast of Mahé, which is Seychelles’ biggest island. Being just below the equator puts it squarely in the tropical zone, so it’s always warm.
The island’s elevation isn’t dramatic. Most spots are close to sea level, but Morne Fond Azore rises up to about 367 meters. This modest elevation affects rainfall, with slopes catching more showers than the flat coasts.
Because Praslin is pretty small, little changes in elevation and how the land faces the wind can create microclimates. Higher inland ridges might feel a bit cooler and wetter, while the beaches and bays stay warmer and more humid.
Land Cover and Topography
You’ll find a mix of granite hills, forested slopes, and coastal lowlands across the island. Dense tropical vegetation covers most of the land, with palms and hardwood trees everywhere. Grasslands are rare, mostly popping up near cleared or managed areas.
Topography really shapes the weather here. Granite ridges block moist air, so you get more showers inland. The flat coastal areas, on the other hand, see fewer clouds and more sunshine.
Maps from the Global Land Cover Share and the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) show these features in detail. They confirm that tree cover dominates, while towns and villages hug the coast.
Meteorological Data and Measurement Methods
People collect weather data for Praslin from both local observations and regional monitoring stations. The closest major station is Seychelles International Airport (ICAO code: FSIA) on Mahé, which sends out METAR reports for aviation and climate research.
International sources like the CRU (University of East Anglia), the UK Met Office, and the Netherlands Meteorological Institute add more information. They use long-term records, adjusting with astronomical algorithms to figure out solar radiation and day length.
Geographic databases such as GeoNames and tools like AskGeo.com help fine-tune coordinates, elevation, and daylight cycles for the island. All these methods together make sure that climate averages come from consistent, trustworthy measurements—not just a few odd weeks.
Seasonal Changes and Environmental Impact
Through the fall months in Praslin, steady warmth, high humidity, and frequent rain shape both the natural world and daily life. The climate keeps plants growing all year, while changes in sunlight, rainfall, and tides affect both ecosystems and how people experience the season.
Growing Season and Degree Days
Praslin’s tropical climate means the growing season never really stops. Plants don’t go dormant, and crops like coconuts, bananas, and breadfruit thrive with steady heat.
Daytime highs from September to November sit between 27°C and 28.5°C, and nights rarely dip below 25°C. These stable temperatures keep growing degree days (GDDs) piling up, which is great for plant growth.
Rainfall is the main thing that changes. September brings about 106 mm, October jumps to 150 mm, and November averages 133 mm. That’s plenty for soil moisture, though sometimes low-lying spots see short floods.
If you’re farming, you can grow crops year-round, but you’ll want to pay attention to drainage and water management during the wetter months.
Shortwave Solar Energy and Moon Phases
Shortwave solar energy stays strong in Praslin during fall, with 12 to 12.4 hours of daylight. More clouds in September can cut the sunshine, but October and November usually clear up a bit.
This steady sunlight fuels photosynthesis and keeps the sea warm, with surface temps from 27°C to 29°C. That’s good news for beachgoers, though you might notice the humidity.
Moon phases matter too. Full moons often bring higher tides, which can affect fishing, snorkeling, and boat trips to smaller islands. Local fishermen plan around these cycles, and you might spot the difference in water levels along the shore depending on the moon.
Solar energy and lunar cycles both subtly shape nature’s rhythms and human routines on the island.
Comparison to Other Tropical Destinations
When you stack Praslin up against other tropical islands like French Polynesia, you spot a mix of similarities and quirks. Both places offer warm seas and steady temperatures, but their rainfall tells a different story.
Praslin gets heavier, more frequent showers in the fall. On the other hand, French Polynesia’s wettest stretch usually hits a bit later in the year.
In Praslin, you might get caught in a quick, intense downpour, then the sun pops right back out.
Storms? That’s another area where things split. French Polynesia sometimes deals with tropical cyclones. Seychelles, including Praslin, almost never gets direct storms, since it sits outside the main cyclone belt.
This location makes fall weather in Praslin a lot more predictable when you’re planning a trip.
Both places enjoy long daylight hours, but Praslin’s spot near the equator gives it more consistent sunlight all year.
That steady sunshine keeps its growing season going and means the beaches stay reliably inviting for travelers.