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Dar es Salaam in May: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Take a look at past year’s weather for Dar es Salaam in May and see if it is worth visiting.
Check flight prices to Dar es Salaam on Avionero:
May

Weather in Dar es Salaam in May 2025

OK Weather
Warm
🌧️
Rainy
🌊
Very warm water
Dar es Salaam in May usually sees fair weather conditions, with an average daily high temperature of +84°F and roughly 2 sunny days. However, you should prepare for about 25 rainy days with an average precipitation of 111 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flights in one click on Avionero.

Average weather

☀️
+84°F
Avg. max. temperature
+68°F
Min.
+91°F
Max.
111 mm
Total precipitation
85%
Avg. humidity
2 m/s
Avg. wind
2 ☀️
Sunny Days
4 ⛅️
Cloudy
25 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Dar es Salaam has OK weather in May.

Average temperature in Dar es Salaam in May

Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Dar es Salaam for May based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The temperature in May is +86°F on average, with a range between a maximum of +90°F during the day and a minimum of +72°F at night.

The average maximum temperature goes up 0% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +84°F to +84°F.

Is Dar es Salaam warm or cold in May?

Dar es Salaam is typically warm in May.

Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +86°F to +84°F. The minimum temperature also goes down from +75°F to +73°F.

It’s generally warm, but pack a long-sleeve shirt for evenings.

Take a look at how May is compared to other months in Dar es Salaam:

Water temperature in Dar es Salaam in May

Water in Dar es Salaam in May is Very warm. It varies from +82°F to +85°F, with an average of +83°F. This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +84°F.

In May, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:

The warmest water temperatures in Dar es Salaam are reached in March, when the average sea temperature rises to +85°F. The coldest water temperatures are in August, with an average of +78°F.

Can you swim in Dar es Salaam in May?

You can definitely swim in Dar es Salaam in May, the water is very warm (+83°F in average), and might even be unpleasant for ones who like it more fresh.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄‍♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
Don't forget sunscreen and a hat, it's going to be hot!

Climate in Dar es Salaam in May

Dar es Salaam weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
AprilMayJune
Avg. temperature
+86°F+84°F+82°F
Min. temperature
+72°F+68°F+66°F
Max. temperature
+91°F+91°F+88°F
Rainfall
205 mm111 mm31 mm
Wind
1 m/s2 m/s2 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+85°F+83°F+81°F
Humidity
86%85%80%
Air pressure
1011 HPa1013 HPa1015 HPa
Sunny days
023
Cloudy days
148
Rainy days
212519
Snowy days
000

May weather is still as ok as in April. It’s getting colder in May. From +86°F in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +84°F. As May arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 205 mm to 111 mm. It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 86% to 85%. Winds are stronger in comparison to April, going up from 1 m/s to 2 m/s on average. The good news is there are likely to be more sunny days in May, from 0 to 2.

But maybe it is worth considering traveling in June as the weather gets better.

Wind

Wind speed in Dar es Salaam in May based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The average wind speed is 3 m/s getting up to 4 m/s which is a light breeze; barely moving the tree leaves.

The average wind speed in Dar es Salaam is gradually increasing during May, going from 3 m/s to 3 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during May in Dar es Salaam based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
A chance of rain on a typical day in May stands at 71%, leading to total precipitation of around 72 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 18 mm, which is considered light rain. May is a pretty wet month with over 22 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
Here’s how May is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Dar es Salaam wettest month is April, where a typical day has a 70% chance of precipitation and 205 mm of rainfall per day. July, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 68% chance of precipitation and 20 mm of rainfall per day.

How was the weather last May in Dar es Salaam?

This is the weather in Dar es Salaam in May 2023:
1 May
🌧️
+84°F
2 May
🌧️
+85°F
3 May
☀️
+86°F
4 May
☁️
+87°F
5 May
☁️
+87°F
6 May
🌧️
+87°F
7 May
🌧️
+86°F
8 May
☀️
+88°F
9 May
☁️
+87°F
10 May
🌧️
+85°F
11 May
☀️
+87°F
12 May
☀️
+86°F
13 May
☁️
+85°F
14 May
🌧️
+88°F
15 May
☀️
+89°F
16 May
☀️
+89°F
17 May
☀️
+87°F
18 May
☀️
+88°F
19 May
☀️
+90°F
20 May
☀️
+89°F
21 May
🌧️
+82°F
22 May
🌧️
+85°F
23 May
☀️
+89°F
24 May
☀️
+87°F
25 May
☀️
+87°F
26 May
☀️
+86°F
27 May
☁️
+88°F
28 May
🌧️
+79°F
29 May
☁️
+85°F
30 May
☀️
+86°F
31 May
☀️
+84°F
In May 2023 Dar es Salaam had 16 sunny days, 6 cloudy days, and 9 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +86°F, with an absolute maximum of +90°F and a minimum of +79°F. The average humidity was 83%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 64%. The average wind speed was 3 m/s, with a maximum of 8 m/s and a minimum of 1 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?

Climate Change Over the Years

This is how Dar es Salaam climate has changed over the last 43 years.

The climate in Dar es Salaam in May has not changed that much over the last 43 years.

The average temperature was the lowest in 1984 (+84°F) and the highest in 2023 (+87°F). The driest year was 2003 with only 558 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 1979 with 1581 mm.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Dar es Salaam in May:

Is May a good time to visit Dar es Salaam?

It’s always a good time to visit Dar es Salaam, but the weather is changeable in May, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.

Can you sunbathe in Dar es Salaam in May?

May is warm in Dar es Salaam. You may enjoy some beach or pool time in the day, but pack something a tad warmer for the evening.

Can you swim in Dar es Salaam in May?

Yes, you can swim in Dar es Salaam in May, the water is very warm, with temperature averaging at +83°F, but it's important to manage hydration and sun exposure.

Is Dar es Salaam rainy in May?

Dar es Salaam is often rainy in May. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.

Is it sunny in Dar es Salaam in May?

Usually, it’s not very sunny in Dar es Salaam in May, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.

Other cities in Tanzania

Check out the weather for other cities in Tanzania.

Monthly weather in Dar es Salaam

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Dar es Salaam, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.

For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.