Natal weather in May

In May, Natal sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 148 mm of rain across 22.3 wet days and about 11.7 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 4th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 48% of the time in May, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 48 min at the start of May to 11 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Natal's 8th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Natal's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
6th warmest
Overnight low
25°
6th coldest
Rainfall
148 mm
22.3 wet days
Daylight
11 h 42 min
5:25 AM – 5:09 PM
Cloud cover
49%
8th clearest
Wind
20 km/h
8th windiest
Solar energy
5.04 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.8
out of 10

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month.

A typical May day in Natal reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 3°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 27°C and 29°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs on par with April and about 1°C warmer than June.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12825
22825
32825
42825
52825
62825
72825
82825
92825
102825
112825
122825
132825
142825
152825
162825
172825
182825
192825
202825
212825
222825
232825
242825
252825
262825
272825
282825
292825
302725
312724

Natal weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 6th-warmest and 4th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan28° / 25°7519.112.34.9
Feb28° / 25°10119.212.24.5
Mar28° / 25°15023.3124.2
Apr28° / 25°18324.511.94.0
May28° / 25°14822.311.74.8
Jun27° / 24°15521.911.74.9
Jul26° / 23°1302111.75.3
Aug27° / 23°5115.111.86.2
Sep27° / 24°3111.5126.7
Oct27° / 25°2410.312.16.8
Nov28° / 25°2510.512.36.5
Dec28° / 25°4014.812.35.7

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 48% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 17% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 35%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15347
25446
35545
45644
55743
65842
75941
86040
96139
106238
116337
126436
136436
146535
156634
166634
176634
186832
196832
206832
217030
227030
237030
247129
257129
267129
277129
287228
297228
307228
317228

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Natal gets around 148 mm of rain over 22.3 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 72% and peaks near 77% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
177
276
375
474
574
673
772
871
971
1070
1169
1269
1369
1469
1569
1669
1770
1870
1971
2071
2171
2272
2372
2473
2573
2673
2774
2874
2974
3075
3175

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, May lands in the oppressive band about 93% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
108713
208812
308812
408911
508911
608911
709010
809010
90919
100919
110928
120928
130937
140937
150946
160946
170946
180955
190955
200964
210964
220964
230973
240973
251963
261972
271972
281972
291981
301981
311981

Wind in May

Winds average 20 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 19 km/h on the calmest days to 21 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
119light breeze
219light breeze
319light breeze
419light breeze
519light breeze
619light breeze
720light breeze
820light breeze
920light breeze
1020light breeze
1120light breeze
1220light breeze
1320light breeze
1420light breeze
1520light breeze
1620light breeze
1720breezy
1820breezy
1920breezy
2020breezy
2120breezy
2220breezy
2320breezy
2420breezy
2520breezy
2620breezy
2720breezy
2820breezy
2921breezy
3021breezy
3121breezy

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 48 min at the start of May to 11 h 42 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 6 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:24 AM to 5:27 AM, and sunset from 5:12 PM to 5:09 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.85:245:12
211.85:245:12
311.85:245:11
411.85:245:11
511.85:245:11
611.85:245:11
711.85:245:11
811.85:245:10
911.85:245:10
1011.85:245:10
1111.85:245:10
1211.85:255:10
1311.75:255:10
1411.75:255:09
1511.75:255:09
1611.75:255:09
1711.75:255:09
1811.75:255:09
1911.75:255:09
2011.75:265:09
2111.75:265:09
2211.75:265:09
2311.75:265:09
2411.75:265:09
2511.75:265:09
2611.75:275:09
2711.75:275:09
2811.75:275:09
2911.75:275:09
3011.75:275:09
3111.75:275:09

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.04 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.59 kWh/m² to a high of 6.47 kWh/m² in October across the year — May's 5.04 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.1Bright
25.1Bright
35.1Bright
45.1Bright
55.1Bright
65.1Bright
75.1Bright
85.1Bright
95.1Bright
105.1Bright
115.1Bright
125.1Bright
135.1Bright
145.1Bright
155.1Bright
165.0Bright
175.0Bright
185.0Bright
195.0Bright
205.0Bright
215.0Bright
225.0Bright
235.0Bright
245.0Bright
254.9Bright
264.9Bright
274.9Bright
284.9Bright
294.9Bright
304.8Bright
314.8Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Natal

In seasonPeak

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

Natal's rainy season runs February–July, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is May a good time to visit Natal?

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

4.8
Sightseeing
9th-best month of the year
5.1
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

May is a reasonable time to visit Natal for sightseeing.

What to pack for Natal in May

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

In May, Natal sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 22 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Natal in May

The nearest coast averages about 28°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 13 km away) is warmest in March at about 29°C and coldest in August near 26°C.

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

24°26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan28Tropical
Feb28Tropical
Mar29Tropical
Apr29Tropical
May28Tropical
Jun27Warm
Jul27Warm
Aug26Warm
Sep26Warm
Oct27Warm
Nov27Warm
Dec28Warm

UV index in Natal 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 Natal peaks around March 15 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 23 at about 10 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highExtremeMar 15UV 15Jun 23UV 10
UV index (midday)Level
Jan13Extreme
Feb14Extreme
Mar15Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun10Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug10Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov12Extreme
Dec12Extreme
Location & terrain

Where is Natal?

Natal sits at 5.8°S, 35.2°W, 32 m above sea level, in Brazil. The nearest listed city is São Gonçalo do Amarante, 13 km away.

Topography around Natal

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Natal has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 113 m around an average of 28 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 115 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 429 m.

The land around Natal is covered by artificial surfaces (56%) within 3 km, water (43%) within 16 km, and water (35%), grassland (34%) and shrubs (21%) within 80 km.

3 km
113 m
16 km
115 m
80 km
429 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetlandmangroves
May weather nearby: São Gonçalo do Amarante 13 km · Parnamirim 15 km · Extremoz 15 km · Macaíba 17 km · Ceará-Mirim 30 km · São José de Mipibu 31 km · Nísia Floresta 33 km · Monte Alegre 33 km

Brazil travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type C / N
127 / 220 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 46% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$10,713
2025
Happiness
6.6 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
89%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
19.3
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
16
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 482
Religion
Roman Catholic 57%Evangelical 27%none 9%other 4%

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 Natal (-5.795°, -35.2094°, elevation 32 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. 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. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).