Cox's Bazar weather in May

In May, Cox's Bazar sees average daytime highs of 31°C and overnight lows near 26°C, with 221 mm of rain across 18.4 wet days and about 13 hours of daylight. It is the 1st-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 31°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time in May, and the air most often feels miserable.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 48 min at the start of May to 13 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Cox's Bazar's 7th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Cox's Bazar's year-round climate.

Daytime high
31°
1st warmest
Overnight low
26°
12th coldest
Rainfall
221 mm
18.4 wet days
Daylight
13 hours
5:18 AM – 6:19 PM
Cloud cover
49%
7th clearest
Wind
13 km/h
4th windiest
Solar energy
5.46 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.9
out of 10

Cox's Bazar is beach town in Bangladesh.

Density
391/km²
people per km²

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 31°C through the month.

A typical May day in Cox's Bazar reaches about 31°C in the afternoon and slips back to 26°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 29°C and 33°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs on par with April and about 1°C warmer than June.

20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13126
23126
33126
43126
53126
63126
73126
83126
93126
103126
113126
123126
133126
143126
153126
163126
173126
183126
193126
203126
213126
223126
233126
243126
253126
263026
273026
283026
293026
303026
313026

How May really feels in Cox's Bazar

Once humidity and wind are folded in, May averages 31 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
31
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in May is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Cox's Bazar weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 1st-warmest and 5th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan24° / 17°50.610.89.5
Feb26° / 19°101.211.38.9
Mar29° / 23°272.711.87.0
Apr31° / 25°536.512.55.3
May31° / 26°22118.4133.9
Jun29° / 26°58427.313.32.9
Jul29° / 26°6583013.22.9
Aug29° / 26°46629.812.72.9
Sep29° / 26°34126.512.13.1
Oct29° / 25°19617.111.54.6
Nov28° / 22°424.3117.5
Dec25° / 19°151.310.79.0

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 13% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 38%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18020
27921
37822
47822
57723
67723
77624
87525
97426
107228
117129
127030
136832
146733
156634
166337
176238
186139
195941
205644
215545
225347
235248
245050
254951
264753
274555
284456
294258
303961
313862

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Cox's Bazar gets around 221 mm of rain over 18.4 wet days in May. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 58% and peaks near 77% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
140
242
343
445
546
647
748
849
950
1051
1151
1252
1353
1454
1555
1656
1758
1859
1961
2063
2164
2266
2367
2469
2570
2671
2772
2873
2975
3076
3177

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of May feels miserable — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, May lands in the miserable band about 86% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
113663
213465
303268
403070
502872
602674
702476
802278
902080
1001882
1101684
1201585
1301387
1401288
1501189
1601090
170991
180892
190793
200793
210694
220694
230595
240496
250496
260397
270397
280298
290298
300298
310298

Wind in May

Winds average 13 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 12 km/h on the calmest days to 14 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
112light breeze
212light breeze
312light breeze
412light breeze
512light breeze
612light breeze
712light breeze
812light breeze
913light breeze
1013light breeze
1113light breeze
1213light breeze
1313light breeze
1413light breeze
1513light breeze
1613light breeze
1713light breeze
1814light breeze
1914light breeze
2014light breeze
2114light breeze
2214light breeze
2314light breeze
2414light breeze
2514light breeze
2614light breeze
2714light breeze
2814light breeze
2914light breeze
3014light breeze
3114light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 48 min at the start of May to 13 h 12 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 24 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:26 AM to 5:13 AM, and sunset from 6:12 PM to 6:25 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.85:266:12
212.85:256:13
312.85:256:13
412.85:246:14
512.85:236:14
612.95:236:15
712.95:226:15
812.95:226:15
912.95:216:16
1012.95:206:16
1112.95:206:17
1213.05:196:17
1313.05:196:17
1413.05:186:18
1513.05:186:18
1613.05:186:19
1713.05:176:19
1813.05:176:20
1913.15:166:20
2013.15:166:21
2113.15:166:21
2213.15:156:21
2313.15:156:22
2413.15:156:22
2513.15:156:23
2613.15:146:23
2713.25:146:24
2813.25:146:24
2913.25:146:24
3013.25:146:25
3113.25:136:25

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.46 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.44 kWh/m² to a high of 6.34 kWh/m² in April across the year — May's 5.46 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.1Intense
26.0Intense
36.0Intense
46.0Bright
55.9Bright
65.9Bright
75.9Bright
85.8Bright
95.8Bright
105.8Bright
115.7Bright
125.7Bright
135.6Bright
145.6Bright
155.5Bright
165.5Bright
175.4Bright
185.4Bright
195.3Bright
205.3Bright
215.2Bright
225.2Bright
235.1Bright
245.1Bright
255.1Bright
265.0Bright
275.0Bright
284.9Bright
294.9Bright
304.8Bright
314.8Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Cox's Bazar

In seasonPeak

In May, Cox's Bazar sits inside its cyclone season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Cox's Bazar sits in the North Indian Ocean cyclone zone; the season peaks May and October–November.

Cox's Bazar's monsoon runs June–September, when most of the year's rain falls.

Cyclone
Monsoon
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is May a good time to visit Cox's Bazar?

Our two travel scores rate May for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

3.9
Sightseeing
8th-best month of the year
5.7
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

May is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Cox's Bazar.

What to pack for Cox's Bazar in May

From May's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In May, Cox's Bazar sees daytime highs around 31°C and nights near 26°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 18 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Cox's Bazar in May

The nearest coast averages about 29°C in May — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 16 km away) is warmest in October at about 30°C and coldest in January near 24°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

22°24°26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan24Warm
Feb24Warm
Mar26Warm
Apr28Tropical
May29Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct30Tropical
Nov28Tropical
Dec26Warm

UV index in Cox's Bazar in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Cox's Bazar peaks around July 22 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 10 at about 6 (high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecHighVery highVery highExtremeVery highHighJul 22UV 13Jan 10UV 6
UV index (midday)Level
Jan6High
Feb7Very high
Mar8Very high
Apr8Very high
May11Extreme
Jun8Very high
Jul13Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep9Very high
Oct7Very high
Nov7High
Dec6High

Air quality in Cox's Bazar in May

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where May falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Cox's Bazar is worst in March — around 143 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 7.5× the cleanest month (July, 19 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0306090120150JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecUnhealthyModeratePoorMar 20137 µg/m³Jul 1919 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan64Unhealthy
Feb60Unhealthy
Mar143Unhealthy
Apr113Unhealthy
May32Moderate
Jun23Moderate
Jul19Moderate
Aug21Moderate
Sep21Moderate
Oct28Moderate
Nov36Poor
Dec52Poor
Location & terrain

Where is Cox's Bazar?

Cox's Bazar sits at 21.4°N, 92.0°E, 2 m above sea level, in Bangladesh. The nearest listed city is Buthidaung Town, 83 km away.

Buthidaung TownChittagongKyauktawBarisalBagerhat

Topography around Cox's Bazar

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Cox's Bazar.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Cox's Bazar has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 62 m around an average of 11 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 92 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,029 m.

The land around Cox's Bazar is covered by trees (54%) and cropland (25%) within 3 km, water (41%) and trees (38%) within 16 km, and trees (53%) and water (38%) within 80 km.

3 km
62 m
16 km
92 m
80 km
1,029 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwatermangroves
May weather nearby: Buthidaung Town 83 km · Chittagong 102 km · Kyauktaw 120 km · Mrauk U 155 km · Sittwe 171 km · Hakha 213 km · Barisal 220 km · Bagerhat 266 km

Bangladesh travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Power plugs
Type A / C / D / G
220 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 25% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$2,597
2025
Happiness
4.3 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
59%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
2.3
per 100k, 2018
Road deaths
15.3
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Lower middle
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 506
Religion
Muslim 91%Hindu 8%other 1%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Cox's Bazar (21.4397°, 92.0096°, elevation 2 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).