A guide to weather in Goa
With temperatures that constantly hover in balmy territory, Goa is the definition of an escape from the winter blues. Found between the Tropic of Cancer and the equator, it’s a small state along the western coast of India in the country’s southern half.
Goa has a tropical monsoon climate that is sometimes tempered by its neighbour, the Arabian Sea. Therefore, the state’s seasons are dictated not by fluctuations in temperature but by the amount of rain they receive.
But even though Goa can see solid months of rain in its off-season, temperatures very rarely – if ever – dip into the teens °C. That’s why this warm destination is highly-touted for its sunbathing potential, gorgeous beaches with warm seawater and well-nurtured green landscape.
Dry season
Goa’s dry season typically lasts from October to May. During this stretch, you’ll hardly see a single drop of rain. The month of May tends to receive the hottest temperatures, with averages in the thirties °C, and high humidity well above 50%. In the run up to May, beginning in March, average hours of sunshine increase to 11 and 12 a day. And even when the sun goes down, evening temperatures tend to hover in the high twenties °C.
Goa does experience a winter, though that’s not saying much. This barely-existent season runs from December to February, and only really designates a slight dip in temperature and lower humidity. Even so, both aren’t vastly lower than summer temperatures, and odds are, it’ll still be much warmer than you’re used to in the UK.
November and December are especially popular months for visiting Goa, as the rains have cleared and the skies are almost always sheets of blue. Temperatures still average in the low thirties °C, with the evenings dipping down into the comfortable mid-twenties °C.
Wet season
The wet season in Goa typically runs from June to September, where the state is locked in a fairly steady downpour. However, the temperatures still stay very warm and the humidity has been known to get even greater, though the rain does have the potential to bring a little respite from the heat.
The temperatures decrease slightly in June with the arrival of the monsoon rain. Then the average rainfall during the wet season tends to peak in July, with humidity hitting its highest in July and August. It’s during these months that tourism quiets down, due to the heavy amount of rain. The rain also tends to bring high tide, which then temporarily washes away large chunks of sunbathing territory on the beach.
Going inland
Though Goa is a relatively small area in the grand scheme of india – it’s about 3,700 square kilometres in size – it still experiences some variety in climate depending on where in the state you go.
Travel further inland and the temperatures tend to increase, as you no longer have the benefit of the breeze from the Arabian Sea to keep things slightly cooler. However, there are mountains even further to the east where the weather is inevitably cooler and rainier in parts. But if you’re visiting Goa from afar, chances are, you’re there to plant yourself on the beach along the western coast.
Above all, it’s important to keep what is ‘chilly for Goa in perspective. The coldest winter in Goa was recorded more than 30 years ago at a delightfully pleasant 15°C. This managed to cause alarm to Goans, who weren’t used to such a moderate climate. For us Brits, however, temperatures in the mid-teens are a walk in the park.