Cape Town weather in May
Cape Town in May averages 15°C (60°F), 65 mm of rain and 6.3 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Cape Town, May is the fifth coldest, the fourth wettest and the second dullest.
- Average temp
- 15°C (60°F)
10–21°C · 50–69°F
- Rainfall
- 65 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 6.3 h
hours per day
What is Cape Town 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 Cape Town in May?
A light rain jacket
About 65 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 10°C (50°F).
May compared with April and June
May in Cape Town is 2.6°C cooler than April and 24 mm wetter than it, which averages 18°C (64°F).
May in Cape Town is 2.1°C warmer than June and 32 mm drier than it, which averages 13°C (56°F).
Daylight in Cape Town in May
On 15 May the sun is up for 10 hours 21 minutes in Cape Town, rising about 07:31 and setting about 17:53 local time.
May ends 41 minutes shorter than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 4 hours 3 minutes short of December, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in Cape Town
Dates are a starting point for May.
Travel guides for Cape Town
What to read before you book.
Cape Town 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 | 22°C / 71°F | 10 mm |
| February | 22°C / 72°F | 11 mm |
| March | 21°C / 69°F | 13 mm |
| April | 18°C / 64°F | 42 mm |
| May | 15°C / 60°F | 65 mm |
| June | 13°C / 56°F | 97 mm |
| July | 13°C / 55°F | 89 mm |
| August | 13°C / 55°F | 76 mm |
| September | 14°C / 58°F | 47 mm |
| October | 17°C / 62°F | 32 mm |
| November | 19°C / 65°F | 27 mm |
| December | 21°C / 69°F | 13 mm |
Check another month
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FAQs about Cape Town in May
May climate averages for Cape Town, 1991–2020.
Cape Town averages 15°C (60°F) in May, ranging from about 10°C (50°F) at night to 21°C (69°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 65 mm falls across May, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
Yes. May averages 15°C (60°F) against 13°C (56°F) in June — 2.1°C warmer.
May is 2.6°C cooler than April, and 24 mm wetter.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is November to April; 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 6.3 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 10 hours 21 minutes of daylight in mid-May, against 14 hours 24 minutes in December and 9 hours 54 minutes in June.
On 15 May, sunrise is about 07:31 and sunset about 17:53 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 41 minutes shorter than it starts.
