South Africa
Cape Town in May: weather, sea & travel advice
This month's data profile
Clear transition month
Cape Town in May is climatically well suited to city breaks and active holidays and hiking. The average daily high is around 18 °C, and the sea is about 15 °C. With about 10 rainy days it is moderate.
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Rank among 12 monthly averages
56/100 · #8
Warmth
#7
Dryness
#9
Sun
#10
Sea warmth
#7
Published best categories: none
Cape Town · MayPhoto: Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0Climate facts
- Average high
- 18 °C
- Average low
- 15 °C
- Sea
- 15 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 10 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 4 h/day
- Humidity
- 81 %
Climate evidence with direct month comparison
The highlighted row is the selected month. Precipitation total and rainy days are separate monthly averages.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Precipitation mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Sea °C | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 19 | 16 | 6 | 38 | 5.6 | 80 | 4.6 | 15 | 67 |
| May (selected) | 18 | 15 | 10 | 55 | 4.0 | 81 | 4.3 | 15 | 56 |
| June | 17 | 14 | 11 | 91 | 3.3 | 79 | 4.8 | 15 | 47 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: May (56/100)
Positive and negative values show the change from the selected month.
| Score Δ | Average high Δ | Average low Δ | Rainy days Δ | Rain Δ | Sun Δ | Humidity Δ | Wind Δ | Sea Δ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | +11 | +1.4 °C | +1 °C | -3.4 | -17.6 mm | +1.6 h | -1.1 % | +0.3 m/s | +0.1 °C |
| June | -9 | -1.5 °C | -1.3 °C | +1.8 | +35.7 mm | -0.7 h | -2 % | +0.5 m/s | -0.2 °C |
All twelve months in context
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Frequently asked questions
How warm is Cape Town in May?
The average daily high is around 18 °C, with an average daily low of about 15 °C.
Can you swim in Cape Town in May?
The sea is about 15 °C (cold).
Does it rain a lot in Cape Town in May?
The curated estimate is about 10 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 55 mm for the month. A rainy day does not mean all-day rain.
When is the best time to visit Cape Town?
By the climate score, January, February, March and December are the strongest months for Cape Town. For a beach trip: January, February, March and December. May is not among them.