Temperatures in May
It's pleasantly warm in May in Cape Town with an average temperature of 22°C. Temperatures this month range from a low of 19°C to a high of 24°C. At night, you can expect temperatures between 10°C and 14°C.
Max and Min Temperatures per Day
This chart shows the daily maximum and minimum temperatures in degrees Celsius for Cape Town 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 Cape Town with warm temperatures, averaging around 23°C during the day and nights close to 13°C. There’s little chance of precipitation. The weather is mostly sunny and dry.
Mid-May
By mid-May, the average daytime temperature drops to around 22°C, with nights close to 12°C. There might be a few showers during this period, but plenty of dry days with sunshine too.
End of May
By the end of May, the average daytime temperature in Cape Town will be around 21°C, with nights close to 12°C. There’s regular precipitation, but with a bit of luck, you’ll also get some dry and sunny days.
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Water temperature
The water temperature at Cape Town is 19°C this month. Refreshing if you fancy a swim.
Precipitation in May
In May, there is an average of 62 mm of precipitation, spread over 7 days. The wind speed is around 4 Bft, mostly coming from the Southwest.
The average precipitation chance is 23% per day this month. Though that seems low, there are also a few days with a higher chance of precipitation.
Precipitation Chance
This chart shows the daily precipitation chance (in percentages) in May for Cape Town. 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.
Cape Town in May |
London | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 Average Temperature |
22°C | 18°C | |
 High Temp |
24°C | 21°C | |
| Low Temp |
19°C | 15°C | |
 Total Precipitation |
62 mm | 46 mm | |
| Rainy Days |
7 days | 8 days | |
April
UV index
The UV index is a maximum of 6 this month. That's a moderate to high value on the intensity scale of 1 to 11. Unprotected skin can burn within 15-25 minutes.
Is May a good time to visit Cape Town?
Want nice weather? Then May is a great time to be in Cape Town. You’ll have pleasant temperatures and not too much rain this month.
Temperature records for Cape Town in May
With 33°C, Cape Town hit the highest temperature in the last 10 years in May 2022. The lowest daytime temperature in this month was 13°C in 2023. The extreme night temperatures ranged from a low of 4°C to a high of 17°C.
Check out the climate of Cape Town for all months and discover the best travel time
Curious about the climate in other parts of South Africa? Check out the weather and climate in places like Krugerpark, Johannesburg, Stellenbosch, or have a look at other destinations in South Africa.
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Daily Temperature in May in Cape Town
This chart shows the average daily temperatures, both day and night, for each day in May in Cape Town, 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 Cape Town
The chart below shows the average daily precipitation in May for Cape Town, 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 7 days of rain in Cape Town.
Daily UV Index in May in Cape Town
This chart shows the average daily UV index in May in Cape Town, 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 Cape Town Over the Years
This chart shows the average temperature in May in Cape Town, measured in degrees Celsius, over the past years.
Total Precipitation in May in Cape Town Over the Years
This chart shows the average precipitation in May in Cape Town, 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 Cape Town
Click on a specific day in May for detailed info on the typical weather on that day in Cape Town. Check out the historical temperatures and precipitation over the past 10 years on this day.
Weather experiences in May in Cape Town
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Average Weather in Cape Town by Month
Click on a month below to see detailed weather info for Cape Town. 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 Cape Town for all months at once
