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Mombasa in May: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Discover the weather for Mombasa in May and if it’s a good time to travel (based on historical data).
Check flight prices to Mombasa on Avionero:
May

Weather in Mombasa in May 2025

OK Weather
Warm
🌧️
Rainy
🌊
Very warm water
May could be a good time to visit Mombasa, as the weather is generally fine. The average high temperature is around +82°F, and there are typically 1 sunny days in May. However, expect about 27 rainy days, and total monthly rainfall of approximately 203 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flights in one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
  • May is usually the wettest month of the year in Mombasa;

Average weather

☀️
+82°F
Avg. max. temperature
+72°F
Min.
+90°F
Max.
203 mm
Total precipitation
83%
Avg. humidity
3 m/s
Avg. wind
1 ☀️
Sunny Days
2 ⛅️
Cloudy
27 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Mombasa has OK weather in May.

Average temperature in Mombasa in May

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

The expected average maximum temperature in May is +84°F with a maximum of +88°F and a minimum of +73°F.

The average maximum temperature goes down 12% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +82°F to +81°F.

Is Mombasa warm or cold in May?

Mombasa is typically warm in May.

Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +86°F to +82°F. The minimum temperature also goes down from +77°F to +75°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 Mombasa:

Water temperature in Mombasa in May

Water in Mombasa in May is Very warm. It varies from +81°F to +84°F, with an average of +83°F. Note that the air temperature is lower than the water temperature, averaging around +82°F.

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

The warmest water temperatures in Mombasa are reached in April, 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 Mombasa in May?

You can definitely swim in Mombasa 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 Mombasa in May

Mombasa weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
AprilMayJune
Avg. temperature
+86°F+82°F+81°F
Min. temperature
+73°F+72°F+68°F
Max. temperature
+95°F+90°F+86°F
Rainfall
135 mm203 mm91 mm
Wind
3 m/s3 m/s3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+85°F+83°F+80°F
Humidity
81%83%80%
Air pressure
1010 HPa1012 HPa1015 HPa
Sunny days
011
Cloudy days
122
Rainy days
252727
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 +82°F. Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 135 mm to 203 mm. Humidity rises from 81% to 83%. The average wind speed doesn’t change much during May, staying around 3 m/s. The good news is there are likely to be more sunny days in May, from 0 to 1.

June brings much the same weather, it remains ok.

Wind

Wind speed in Mombasa in May based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The average wind speed is 4 m/s getting up to 5 m/s which is a light breeze; barely moving the tree leaves.

The average wind speed in Mombasa is gradually increasing during May, going from 3 m/s to 4 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during May in Mombasa based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in May is about 83 mm, with a 84% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 10 mm, which is considered light rain. May is a pretty wet month with over 26 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
May is one of the rainiest months in Mombasa, here is a comparison with other months, total mm:
Mombasa wettest month is May, where a typical day has a 87% chance of precipitation and 203 mm of rainfall per day. February, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 41% chance of precipitation and 15 mm of rainfall per day.

How was the weather last May in Mombasa?

This is the weather in Mombasa in May 2023:
1 May
🌧️
+83°F
2 May
🌧️
+84°F
3 May
☁️
+84°F
4 May
🌧️
+84°F
5 May
☀️
+86°F
6 May
☁️
+87°F
7 May
🌧️
+84°F
8 May
🌧️
+85°F
9 May
🌧️
+84°F
10 May
🌧️
+85°F
11 May
☀️
+87°F
12 May
🌧️
+85°F
13 May
☀️
+86°F
14 May
🌧️
+87°F
15 May
☀️
+88°F
16 May
🌧️
+87°F
17 May
🌧️
+87°F
18 May
☀️
+87°F
19 May
☀️
+88°F
20 May
☀️
+87°F
21 May
🌧️
+83°F
22 May
🌧️
+85°F
23 May
☀️
+85°F
24 May
🌧️
+86°F
25 May
☀️
+87°F
26 May
☁️
+86°F
27 May
🌧️
+82°F
28 May
🌧️
+80°F
29 May
🌧️
+82°F
30 May
🌧️
+81°F
31 May
🌧️
+80°F
In May 2023 Mombasa had 9 sunny days, 3 cloudy days, and 19 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +84°F, with an absolute maximum of +88°F and a minimum of +79°F. The average humidity was 83%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 66%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 7 m/s and a minimum of 1 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?

Climate Change Over the Years

This is how Mombasa climate has changed over the last 43 years.

The climate in Mombasa in May has not changed that much over the last 43 years.

The average temperature was the lowest in 1979 (+84°F) and the highest in 2023 (+86°F). The driest year was 2021 with only 554 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2019 with 1484 mm.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Mombasa in May:

Is May a good time to visit Mombasa?

It’s always a good time to visit Mombasa, 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 Mombasa in May?

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

Can you swim in Mombasa in May?

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

Is Mombasa rainy in May?

Mombasa 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 Mombasa in May?

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

Other cities in Kenya

Check out the weather for other cities in Kenya.

Monthly weather in Mombasa

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Mombasa, 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.