Belize City weather in May

In May, Belize City sees average daytime highs of 30°C and overnight lows near 26°C, with 106 mm of rain across 16.3 wet days and about 12.8 hours of daylight. It is the 3rd-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 30°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% of the time in May, and the air most often feels miserable.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 36 min at the start of May to 13 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Belize City's 6th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Belize City's year-round climate.

Daytime high
30°
3rd warmest
Overnight low
26°
9th coldest
Rainfall
106 mm
16.3 wet days
Daylight
12 h 48 min
5:24 AM – 6:14 PM
Cloud cover
54%
6th clearest
Wind
16 km/h
4th windiest
Solar energy
6.09 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.2
out of 10

Belize City is most populous city in Belize and capital of the district of Belize.

Density
1,829/km²
people per km²
Founded
1638

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 30°C through the month.

A typical May day in Belize City reaches about 30°C in the afternoon and slips back to 26°C overnight — a 4°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 29°C and 31°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs on par with April and on par with June.

20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13026
23026
33026
43026
53026
63026
73026
83026
93026
103026
113026
123026
133026
143026
153026
163026
173026
183026
193026
203026
213026
223026
233026
243026
253026
263026
273026
283026
293026
303026
313026

How May really feels in Belize City

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.

Belize City weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 3rd-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan27° / 22°8415.811.15.9
Feb27° / 23°4011.211.46.4
Mar28° / 24°389.511.96.4
Apr30° / 25°398.812.45.6
May30° / 26°10616.312.84.2
Jun30° / 26°20823.9133.2
Jul30° / 26°1722512.93.3
Aug30° / 26°18626.112.63.1
Sep30° / 26°2182712.12.9
Oct29° / 25°24524.511.63.5
Nov28° / 23°16419.111.24.9
Dec27° / 23°9217.5115.6

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 21% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 42%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17030
27030
37030
47030
56931
66931
76832
86832
96733
106634
116535
126436
136337
146139
156139
165941
175842
185644
195644
205545
215347
225149
235050
244852
254753
264555
274357
284258
294159
304060
313961

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Belize City gets around 106 mm of rain over 16.3 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 53% and peaks near 71% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
137
238
338
439
540
641
742
843
945
1046
1147
1249
1350
1451
1552
1653
1754
1855
1956
2058
2159
2260
2361
2463
2564
2665
2766
2868
2969
3070
3171

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 79% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
142769
242769
332671
432671
532572
632572
722573
822573
922474
1022474
1122474
1222474
1312475
1412376
1512376
1612376
1712277
1812178
1912178
2002080
2101981
2201882
2301783
2401585
2501486
2601288
2701189
2801090
290892
300793
310694

Wind in May

Winds average 16 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 15 km/h on the calmest days to 16 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
116light breeze
216light breeze
316light breeze
416light breeze
516light breeze
616light breeze
716light breeze
816light breeze
916light breeze
1016light breeze
1116light breeze
1216light breeze
1316light breeze
1416light breeze
1516light breeze
1616light breeze
1716light breeze
1815light breeze
1915light breeze
2015light breeze
2115light breeze
2215light breeze
2315light breeze
2415light breeze
2515light breeze
2615light breeze
2715light breeze
2815light breeze
2915light breeze
3015light breeze
3115light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 36 min at the start of May to 13 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 24 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:31 AM to 5:21 AM, and sunset from 6:09 PM to 6:19 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.65:316:09
212.65:316:09
312.75:306:09
412.75:306:10
512.75:296:10
612.75:296:10
712.75:286:11
812.75:286:11
912.75:276:11
1012.75:276:12
1112.85:266:12
1212.85:266:12
1312.85:266:13
1412.85:256:13
1512.85:256:13
1612.85:246:14
1712.85:246:14
1812.85:246:14
1912.95:246:15
2012.95:236:15
2112.95:236:15
2212.95:236:16
2312.95:236:16
2412.95:226:16
2512.95:226:17
2612.95:226:17
2712.95:226:18
2812.95:226:18
2912.95:226:18
3013.05:216:19
3113.05:216:19

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 6.09 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.85 kWh/m² to a high of 6.34 kWh/m² in April across the year — May's 6.09 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.4Intense
26.4Intense
36.4Intense
46.4Intense
56.3Intense
66.3Intense
76.3Intense
86.3Intense
96.3Intense
106.2Intense
116.2Intense
126.2Intense
136.2Intense
146.2Intense
156.1Intense
166.1Intense
176.1Intense
186.0Intense
196.0Intense
206.0Bright
216.0Bright
225.9Bright
235.9Bright
245.9Bright
255.8Bright
265.8Bright
275.8Bright
285.8Bright
295.7Bright
305.7Bright
315.7Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Belize City

In seasonPeak

None of Belize City's seasonal hazards are active in May. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Belize City sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Belize City's rainy season runs June–November, when most of the year's rain falls.

Atlantic hurricane
Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is May a good time to visit Belize City?

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

4.2
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
5.9
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

May is a reasonable time to visit Belize City for sightseeing.

What to pack for Belize City in May

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

In May, Belize City sees daytime highs around 30°C and nights near 26°C. Pack light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 16 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Belize City 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 September at about 30°C and coldest in January near 27°C.

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

26°28°30°32°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb27Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr28Warm
May29Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep30Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov28Tropical
Dec27Warm

UV index in Belize City 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 Belize City peaks around April 10 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 16 at about 7 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highApr 10UV 13Dec 16UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan9Very high
Feb11Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct11Extreme
Nov8Very high
Dec7Very high

Air quality in Belize City 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 Belize City is worst in July — around 30 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 5.4× the cleanest month (December, 6 µg/m³).

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

010203040JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1030 µg/m³Dec 176 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb8Good
Mar10Good
Apr22Moderate
May28Moderate
Jun29Moderate
Jul30Moderate
Aug20Moderate
Sep14Moderate
Oct10Good
Nov6Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Belize City?

Belize City sits at 17.5°N, 88.2°W, 6 m above sea level, in Belize. The nearest listed city is Caye Caulker, 32 km away.

Caye CaulkerCrooked TreeSan PedroDangrigaBelmopanHopkinsOrange WalkSan Ignacio

Topography around Belize City

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Belize City.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Belize City has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 16 m around an average of 1 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 23 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 974 m.

The land around Belize City is covered by water (52%) and artificial surfaces (30%) within 3 km, water (72%) within 16 km, and water (52%) and trees (31%) within 80 km.

3 km
16 m
16 km
23 m
80 km
974 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetlandmangroves
May weather nearby: Caye Caulker 32 km · Crooked Tree 48 km · San Pedro 52 km · Dangriga 59 km · Belmopan 66 km · Hopkins 71 km · Orange Walk 75 km · San Ignacio 100 km

Belize travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type A / B / G
110 / 220 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 53% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$7,865
2025
Happiness
6.7 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
28.1
per 100k, 2022
Road deaths
22.6
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
Religion
Roman Catholic 40%Protestant 32%none 16%other 11%

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 Belize City (17.4995°, -88.1976°, elevation 6 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).