Cárdenas weather in May

In May, Cárdenas sees average daytime highs of 29°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 107 mm of rain across 13.7 wet days and about 13.1 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 29°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 46% of the time in May, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 48 min at the start of May to 13 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Cárdenas's 7th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Cárdenas's year-round climate.

Daytime high
29°
5th warmest
Overnight low
23°
7th coldest
Rainfall
107 mm
13.7 wet days
Daylight
13 h 06 min
5:48 AM – 6:54 PM
Cloud cover
48%
7th clearest
Wind
14 km/h
8th windiest
Solar energy
6.32 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.1
out of 10

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 29°C through the month.

A typical May day in Cárdenas reaches about 29°C in the afternoon and slips back to 23°C overnight — a 6°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 27°C and 31°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs on par with April and about 1°C cooler than June.

20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12923
22923
32923
42923
52923
62923
72923
82923
92923
102923
112923
122923
132923
142923
152923
162923
172923
182923
192923
202923
212923
222924
232924
242924
252924
262924
273024
283024
293024
303024
313024

How May really feels in Cárdenas

Once humidity and wind are folded in, May averages 12 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
12
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.

Cárdenas weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan25° / 19°305.110.77.8
Feb26° / 19°223.511.28.0
Mar27° / 20°234.711.87.7
Apr29° / 22°40612.56.5
May29° / 23°10713.713.15.1
Jun30° / 25°1441913.43.8
Jul31° / 25°9917.613.33.9
Aug31° / 25°12619.912.83.6
Sep30° / 25°14521.912.13.5
Oct29° / 24°11217.211.54.8
Nov27° / 22°457.710.97.0
Dec26° / 20°24510.67.7

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 46% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 36%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17426
27426
37426
47426
57426
67426
77426
87327
97327
107228
117030
126931
136832
146733
156535
166436
176337
186238
196139
206040
215941
225842
235743
245644
255545
265446
275347
285149
295050
304753
314555

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Cárdenas gets around 107 mm of rain over 13.7 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 45% and peaks near 63% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
131
231
331
431
531
631
731
832
933
1034
1135
1236
1338
1440
1542
1644
1746
1848
1950
2052
2153
2255
2356
2457
2558
2659
2760
2860
2961
3062
3163

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 60% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 92% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1141343400
2131343410
3131242420
4131242420
5131242430
6021242440
7021241450
8021141460
9021140470
10021139480
11011039500
12011037520
1301936531
1401835551
1501834561
1601732591
1701631611
1800530641
1900529651
2000427672
2100426682
2200324712
2300323722
2400221743
2500220753
2600218764
2700117784
2800115804
2900114805
3000112816
3100011836

Wind in May

Winds average 14 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 13 km/h on the calmest days to 15 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
115light breeze
215light breeze
315light breeze
415light breeze
515light breeze
615light breeze
715light breeze
815light breeze
915light breeze
1015light breeze
1115light breeze
1215light breeze
1315light breeze
1415light breeze
1515light breeze
1614light breeze
1714light breeze
1814light breeze
1914light breeze
2014light breeze
2114light breeze
2214light breeze
2314light breeze
2414light breeze
2513light breeze
2613light breeze
2713light breeze
2813light breeze
2913light breeze
3013light breeze
3113light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 48 min at the start of May to 13 h 18 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 30 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:57 AM to 5:43 AM, and sunset from 6:47 PM to 7:01 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.85:576:47
212.95:566:48
312.95:556:48
412.95:556:49
512.95:546:49
612.95:536:50
713.05:536:50
813.05:526:50
913.05:526:51
1013.05:516:51
1113.05:506:52
1213.05:506:52
1313.15:496:53
1413.15:496:53
1513.15:486:54
1613.15:486:54
1713.15:476:55
1813.15:476:55
1913.15:476:56
2013.25:466:56
2113.25:466:57
2213.25:466:57
2313.25:456:58
2413.25:456:58
2513.25:456:58
2613.25:446:59
2713.35:446:59
2813.35:447:00
2913.35:447:00
3013.35:437:01
3113.35:437:01

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 6.32 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.66 kWh/m² to a high of 6.53 kWh/m² in July across the year — May's 6.32 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.5Intense
26.5Intense
36.5Intense
46.5Intense
56.5Intense
66.5Intense
76.5Intense
86.5Intense
96.5Intense
106.5Intense
116.5Intense
126.4Intense
136.4Intense
146.4Intense
156.3Intense
166.3Intense
176.3Intense
186.2Intense
196.2Intense
206.2Intense
216.1Intense
226.1Intense
236.1Intense
246.1Intense
256.0Intense
266.0Intense
276.0Bright
286.0Bright
296.0Bright
305.9Bright
315.9Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Cárdenas

In seasonPeak

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

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

Cárdenas's rainy season runs May–October, 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 Cárdenas?

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

5.1
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
6.6
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

May is a reasonable time to visit Cárdenas for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Cárdenas in May

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

In May, Cárdenas sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 14 days see rain.

light clothessun protectionrain gear

Sea temperature near Cárdenas in May

The nearest coast averages about 27°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 August at about 29°C and coldest in February near 25°C.

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

24°26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan26Warm
Feb25Warm
Mar26Warm
Apr26Warm
May27Warm
Jun28Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov27Warm
Dec26Warm

UV index in Cárdenas 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 Cárdenas peaks around June 20 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 17 at about 6 (high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecHighVery highExtremeVery highHighJun 20UV 12Dec 17UV 6
UV index (midday)Level
Jan6High
Feb8Very high
Mar10Extreme
Apr11Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep11Extreme
Oct9Very high
Nov6High
Dec6High

Air quality in Cárdenas 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 Cárdenas is worst in July — around 20 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.5× the cleanest month (November, 6 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1520 µg/m³Nov 236 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb7Good
Mar8Good
Apr10Good
May11Good
Jun18Moderate
Jul20Moderate
Aug17Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct9Good
Nov6Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Cárdenas?

Cárdenas sits at 23.0°N, 81.2°W, 9 m above sea level, in Cuba. The nearest listed city is Varadero, 14 km away.

Topography around Cárdenas

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Cárdenas has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 17 m around an average of 5 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 249 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 365 m.

The land around Cárdenas is covered by artificial surfaces (27%), grassland (25%) and water (22%) within 3 km, water (32%), trees (28%) and grassland (23%) within 16 km, and water (39%) and trees (26%) within 80 km.

3 km
17 m
16 km
249 m
80 km
365 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetlandmangroves
May weather nearby: Varadero 14 km · Limonar 23 km · Jovellanos 26 km · Pedro Betancourt 35 km · Perico 35 km · Matanzas 39 km · Unión de Reyes 43 km · Colón 47 km

Cuba travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type A / B / C / L
110 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 39% of US
price level, 2011
GDP per capita
$9,605
2020
Happiness
5.4 / 10
World Happiness, 2011
Homicide rate
4.5
per 100k, 2019
Road deaths
8.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 515
Religion
Christian 59%none 23%folk religion 18%

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 Cárdenas (23.0363°, -81.206°, elevation 9 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).