Nairobi weather in May
Nairobi in May averages 20°C (68°F), 103 mm of rain and 5.8 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Nairobi, May is the fifth coldest, the third wettest and the fourth dullest.
- Average temp
- 20°C (68°F)
15–25°C · 58–77°F
- Rainfall
- 103 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 5.8 h
hours per day
What is Nairobi like in May?
Daytime
Days are mild.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Nairobi in May?
A light rain jacket
About 103 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A layer for the evening
The day swings about 10°C between its low and its high.
May compared with April and June
May in Nairobi is 1°C cooler than April and 24 mm drier than it, which averages 21°C (69°F).
May in Nairobi is 1.4°C warmer than June and 76 mm wetter than it, which averages 18°C (65°F).
Daylight in Nairobi in May
On 15 May the sun is up for 12 hours 3 minutes in Nairobi, rising about 06:27 and setting about 18:30 local time.
No month in Nairobi has less daylight than May.
Where to stay in Nairobi
Dates are a starting point for May.
Travel guides for Nairobi
What to read before you book.
Nairobi weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How May compares with the rest of the year
May is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 20°C / 69°F | 61 mm |
| February | 21°C / 70°F | 39 mm |
| March | 22°C / 71°F | 75 mm |
| April | 21°C / 69°F | 126 mm |
| May | 20°C / 68°F | 103 mm |
| June | 18°C / 65°F | 27 mm |
| July | 18°C / 64°F | 11 mm |
| August | 18°C / 65°F | 18 mm |
| September | 20°C / 67°F | 19 mm |
| October | 21°C / 69°F | 48 mm |
| November | 20°C / 69°F | 128 mm |
| December | 20°C / 69°F | 86 mm |
Check another month
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FAQs about Nairobi in May
May climate averages for Nairobi, 1991–2020.
Nairobi averages 20°C (68°F) in May, ranging from about 15°C (58°F) at night to 25°C (77°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 103 mm falls across May, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
Yes. May averages 20°C (68°F) against 18°C (65°F) in June — 1.4°C warmer.
May is 1°C cooler than April, and 24 mm drier.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is June to October; May sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
About 5.8 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what May is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 12 hours 3 minutes of daylight in mid-May, the least of any month in Nairobi.
On 15 May, sunrise is about 06:27 and sunset about 18:30 local time. Both shift across the month.
