Temperatures in May
It's warm in May in Costa Rica with an average temperature of 28°C. Temperatures this month range from a low of 27°C to a high of 29°C. At night, you can expect temperatures between 19°C and 21°C.
Max and Min Temperatures per Day
This chart shows the daily maximum and minimum temperatures in degrees Celsius for Costa Rica in May. The red line indicates the max temperatures, and the blue line shows the minimums.
Start of May
The month of May starts in Costa Rica with hot temperatures, averaging around 29°C during the day and nights close to 21°C. Plenty of days with a chance of precipitation.
Since temperatures can differ between day and night, it’s a good idea to dress in layers.
Mid-May
By mid-May, the average daytime temperature drops to around 28°C, with nights close to 21°C. The chance of precipitation is high during this period.
Temperatures vary between day and night, so it’s smart to wear layers.
End of May
By the end of May, the average daytime temperature in Costa Rica will be around 28°C, with nights close to 20°C. There’s a significant chance of many days with precipitation.
As it gets cooler in the evening, it’s best to wear layers.
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Precipitation in May
In May, there is an average of 273 mm of precipitation, spread over 17 days. The wind speed is around 4 Bft, mostly coming from the Southeast.
Across the whole month, the average precipitation chance is 54% per day. Though it seems average, the weather’s variable. Some days have higher, others lower precipitation chances.
Precipitation Chance
This chart shows the daily precipitation chance (in percentages) in May for Costa Rica. 0% means it never rained on that day in the past 10 years, and 100% means it rained every day. All values in between represent the average chance of precipitation on that day.
Costa Rica in May |
UK | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 Average Temperature |
28°C | 18°C | |
 High Temp |
29°C | 21°C | |
| Low Temp |
27°C | 15°C | |
 Total Precipitation |
273 mm | 46 mm | |
| Rainy Days |
17 days | 8 days | |
April
UV index
The UV index is a maximum of 9 this month. That's a very high value on the intensity scale of 1 to 11. Unprotected skin can burn within 10-15 minutes.
Is May a good time to visit Costa Rica?
After some sun? Then May isn’t the best time to be in Costa Rica. The temperature is pleasant, but there’s too much chance of rain this month.
The hurricane season in Costa Rica runs from June to November.
Temperature records for Costa Rica in May
With 31°C, Costa Rica hit the highest temperature in the last 10 years in May 2017. The lowest daytime temperature in this month was 22°C in 2019. The extreme night temperatures ranged from a low of 15°C to a high of 23°C.
Check out the climate of Costa Rica for all months and discover the best travel time
The climate of Costa Rica is based on weather data from San José. Other locations might have different weather. You can check out all destinations in Costa Rica for a full picture of the climate.
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Daily Temperature in May in Costa Rica
This chart shows the average daily temperatures, both day and night, for each day in May in Costa Rica, measured in degrees Celsius. The red line represents the maximum temperatures, while the blue line shows the minimums. The days of the month are displayed at the bottom of the chart. The data, based on historical observations, gives an overview of the average daily temperatures during this month.
Daily Precipitation in May in Costa Rica
The chart below shows the average daily precipitation in May for Costa Rica, measured in millimetres over the past years. Precipitation is always measured as water, even if it’s snow or hail. The days of the month are shown at the bottom of the chart.
A low average precipitation means that the chance of rain on that day is usually small, while a higher average suggests that rain is more likely. But it’s still an average, so each day can be different. Based on historical weather data for May, you can expect around 17 days of rain in Costa Rica.
Daily UV Index in May in Costa Rica
This chart shows the average daily UV index in May in Costa Rica, with the UV index ranging from 0 to a maximum of 11. The bottom of the chart shows the days of the month. Based on historical data, this chart provides an idea of the daily UV radiation levels you can expect.
Temperature in May in Costa Rica Over the Years
This chart shows the average temperature in May in Costa Rica, measured in degrees Celsius, over the past years.
Total Precipitation in May in Costa Rica Over the Years
This chart shows the average precipitation in May in Costa Rica, measured in millimetres over the past years. Precipitation is always measured as water, even if it’s snow or hail.
Daily climate in May for Costa Rica
Click on a specific day in May for detailed info on the typical weather on that day in Costa Rica. Check out the historical temperatures and precipitation over the past 10 years on this day.
Weather experiences in May in Costa Rica
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Average Weather in Costa Rica by Month
Click on a month below to see detailed weather info for Costa Rica. Based on historical weather data, you can see the average temperature, precipitation, wind, and UV index for each day of the month.
Or check out the climate of Costa Rica for all months at once
