Climate

The southwest of Madagascar is one of the driest areas of the country, with an annual rainfall often less than 36 cm and a dry season that can last 9 to 11 months.  This area of the country is punctuated by only a brief rainy season that usually occurs between December and February.

Surface temperatures in the Velondriake region average 21 to 28 degrees Celsius (70 to 82 degrees Farenheit) throughout the year.  Water temperatures are seasonal, ranging from 22-24 degrees Celsius in the coolest month (August), to 28-30 degrees Celsius in February, the warmest month.  Recent years have seen periods of unseasonably high summer sea surface temperatures, particularly in shallow lagoonal waters - this has been associated with recent observations of climate-induced coral bleaching and mortality events.

Bleached coral