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Nairobi in May: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

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

Weather in Nairobi in May 2024

OK Weather
Warm
☁️
Cloudy
If you plan to visit Nairobi in May, the weather is typically alright, with an average high temperature of +75°F during the day and approximately 0 sunny days. Expect some rainy, though, as there are typically 10 rainy days in the month and around 87 mm of precipitation. The weather is changeable so you may have to pack for every eventuality. Search flights in one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
  • May is usually the wettest month of the year in Nairobi;

Average weather

☀️
+75°F
Avg. max. temperature
+52°F
Min.
+86°F
Max.
87 mm
Total precipitation
77%
Avg. humidity
2 m/s
Avg. wind
0 ☀️
Sunny Days
21 ⛅️
Cloudy
10 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Nairobi has OK weather in May.

Average temperature in Nairobi in May

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

The temperature in May is +77°F on average, with a range between a maximum of +82°F during the day and a minimum of +57°F at night.

The average maximum temperature goes down 14% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +77°F to +73°F.

Is Nairobi warm or cold in May?

Nairobi is typically warm in May.

Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +77°F to +75°F. The minimum temperature also goes up from +61°F to +59°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 Nairobi:

Climate in Nairobi in May

Nairobi weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
AprilMayJune
Avg. temperature
+77°F+75°F+73°F
Min. temperature
+52°F+52°F+48°F
Max. temperature
+88°F+86°F+84°F
Rainfall
108 mm87 mm36 mm
Wind
2 m/s2 m/s1 m/s
Humidity
74%77%74%
Air pressure
1016 HPa1017 HPa1019 HPa
Sunny days
000
Cloudy days
192126
Rainy days
11104
Snowy days
000

May typically has worse weather conditions compared to April. It’s getting colder in May. From +77°F in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +75°F. As May arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 108 mm to 87 mm. Humidity rises from 74% to 77%. The average wind speed doesn’t change much during May, staying around 2 m/s. The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 0 sunny days during the month.

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

Wind

Wind speed in Nairobi 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 Nairobi 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 Nairobi based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in May is about 17 mm, with a 35% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 2 mm, which is considered light rain. May is a pretty wet month with over 11 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
May is one of the rainiest months in Nairobi, here is a comparison with other months, total mm:
Nairobi wettest month is April, where a typical day has a 37% chance of precipitation and 108 mm of rainfall per day. September, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 3% chance of precipitation and 12 mm of rainfall per day.

How was the weather last May in Nairobi?

This is the weather in Nairobi in May 2023:
1 May
☁️
+77°F
2 May
☁️
+77°F
3 May
☁️
+74°F
4 May
☁️
+75°F
5 May
☁️
+73°F
6 May
☁️
+76°F
7 May
☁️
+77°F
8 May
☁️
+79°F
9 May
☁️
+79°F
10 May
☁️
+79°F
11 May
☁️
+79°F
12 May
☁️
+79°F
13 May
☁️
+79°F
14 May
☁️
+80°F
15 May
☁️
+79°F
16 May
☁️
+76°F
17 May
☁️
+74°F
18 May
☁️
+76°F
19 May
☁️
+77°F
20 May
☁️
+79°F
21 May
☁️
+80°F
22 May
☁️
+80°F
23 May
☁️
+83°F
24 May
☁️
+81°F
25 May
☁️
+80°F
26 May
☁️
+80°F
27 May
☁️
+79°F
28 May
☁️
+75°F
29 May
☁️
+76°F
30 May
☁️
+75°F
31 May
☁️
+74°F
In May 2023 Nairobi had 0 sunny days, 31 cloudy days, and 0 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +77°F, with an absolute maximum of +82°F and a minimum of +73°F. The average humidity was 70%, with a maximum of 97% and a minimum of 28%. The average wind speed was 3 m/s, with a maximum of 10 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?

Climate Change Over the Years

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

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

The average temperature was the lowest in 1986 (+75°F) and the highest in 2011 (+80°F). The driest year was 1984 with only 10 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 1998 with 217 mm.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Nairobi in May:

Is May a good time to visit Nairobi?

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

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

Is Nairobi rainy in May?

Nairobi 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 Nairobi in May?

Usually, it’s not very sunny in Nairobi 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 Nairobi

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Nairobi, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2022.

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.