Basse-Terre weather in May

In May, Basse-Terre sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 50 mm of rain across 11.5 wet days and about 12.7 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 6th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 27°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% of the time in May, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 36 min at the start of May to 12 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Basse-Terre's 9th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Basse-Terre's year-round climate.

Daytime high
27°
6th warmest
Overnight low
25°
6th coldest
Rainfall
50 mm
11.5 wet days
Daylight
12 h 42 min
5:41 AM – 6:25 PM
Cloud cover
59%
9th clearest
Wind
18 km/h
5th windiest
Solar energy
6.62 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.3
out of 10

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 27°C through the month.

A typical May day in Basse-Terre reaches about 27°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 2°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 26°C and 28°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 1°C warmer than April and on par with June.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12725
22725
32725
42725
52725
62725
72725
82725
92725
102725
112725
122725
132725
142725
152725
162725
172725
182725
192725
202725
212725
222725
232725
242725
252725
262725
272725
282726
292726
302726
312726

Basse-Terre weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 24°3011.911.26.9
Feb25° / 24°229.111.57.2
Mar26° / 24°197.211.97.5
Apr26° / 24°309.612.36.9
May27° / 25°5011.512.76.3
Jun28° / 26°4512.412.96.0
Jul28° / 26°6215.912.95.7
Aug28° / 26°7917.812.55.3
Sep28° / 26°10718.112.14.9
Oct28° / 26°10819.511.65.1
Nov27° / 25°8716.311.35.7
Dec26° / 25°4013.511.16.5

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% 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 46%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16337
26238
36139
46040
55941
65842
75743
85644
95545
105446
115347
125347
135248
145248
155248
165149
175149
185149
195149
205248
215149
225149
235149
245149
255149
265248
275248
285248
295149
305248
315248

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Basse-Terre gets around 50 mm of rain over 11.5 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 37% and peaks near 40% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
136
237
338
438
539
639
739
839
939
1038
1138
1237
1336
1436
1535
1635
1734
1834
1934
2034
2134
2235
2335
2436
2537
2638
2738
2839
2940
3040
3140

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 91% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
117830
216840
315850
414860
514851
613861
712871
811881
910891
109901
118911
128911
137912
146922
155932
164942
174933
183943
193943
202944
212944
222944
232944
242935
251945
261945
271945
281936
291936
301936
311936

Wind in May

Winds average 18 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 18 km/h on the calmest days to 19 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
118light breeze
218light breeze
318light breeze
418light breeze
518light breeze
618light breeze
718light breeze
818light breeze
918light breeze
1018light breeze
1118light breeze
1218light breeze
1318light breeze
1418light breeze
1518light breeze
1618light breeze
1718light breeze
1818light breeze
1918light breeze
2018light breeze
2118light breeze
2218light breeze
2318light breeze
2418light breeze
2518light breeze
2618light breeze
2718light breeze
2818light breeze
2918light breeze
3018light breeze
3119light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 36 min at the start of May to 12 h 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 18 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:47 AM to 5:38 AM, and sunset from 6:21 PM to 6:31 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.65:476:21
212.65:476:21
312.65:466:22
412.65:466:22
512.65:456:22
612.65:456:22
712.65:446:23
812.75:446:23
912.75:436:23
1012.75:436:24
1112.75:436:24
1212.75:426:24
1312.75:426:25
1412.75:426:25
1512.75:416:25
1612.75:416:25
1712.85:416:26
1812.85:406:26
1912.85:406:26
2012.85:406:27
2112.85:406:27
2212.85:396:27
2312.85:396:28
2412.85:396:28
2512.85:396:28
2612.85:396:29
2712.85:396:29
2812.95:386:30
2912.95:386:30
3012.95:386:30
3112.95:386:31

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 6.62 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.75 kWh/m² to a high of 6.73 kWh/m² in April across the year — May's 6.62 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.7Intense
26.7Intense
36.7Intense
46.7Intense
56.7Intense
66.6Intense
76.6Intense
86.6Intense
96.6Intense
106.6Intense
116.6Intense
126.6Intense
136.6Intense
146.6Intense
156.7Intense
166.7Intense
176.7Intense
186.7Intense
196.7Intense
206.7Intense
216.7Intense
226.7Intense
236.7Intense
246.7Intense
256.7Intense
266.7Intense
276.7Intense
286.7Intense
296.7Intense
306.7Intense
316.7Intense
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Basse-Terre

In seasonPeak

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

Basse-Terre sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Basse-Terre's rainy season runs July–November, when most of the year's rain falls.

Basse-Terre sees seasonal dust haze (June–July), heaviest in July.

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

Is May a good time to visit Basse-Terre?

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

6.3
Sightseeing
6th-best month of the year
6.4
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Basse-Terre in May

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

In May, Basse-Terre sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 12 days see rain.

light clothessun protectionrain gear

Sea temperature near Basse-Terre 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 18 km away) is warmest in September at about 29°C and coldest in February near 27°C.

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

26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb27Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr27Warm
May28Warm
Jun28Tropical
Jul28Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec28Warm

UV index in Basse-Terre in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 12 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Basse-Terre peaks around March 22 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 15 at about 8 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highMar 22UV 13Dec 15UV 8
UV index (midday)Level
Jan9Very high
Feb11Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May12Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug11Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct11Extreme
Nov8Very high
Dec8Very high

Air quality in Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre is worst in June — around 26 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.3× the cleanest month (December, 8 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJun 2126 µg/m³Dec 238 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb11Good
Mar9Good
Apr13Moderate
May16Moderate
Jun26Moderate
Jul25Moderate
Aug21Moderate
Sep16Moderate
Oct17Moderate
Nov11Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Basse-Terre?

Basse-Terre sits at 16.0°N, 61.7°W, 11 m above sea level, in Guadeloupe. The nearest listed city is Capesterre-Belle-Eau, 19 km away.

Capesterre-Belle-EauPetit-BourgBaie-MahaultPointe-à-PitreLe GosierSainte-RoseLes AbymesSainte-Anne

Topography around Basse-Terre

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Basse-Terre has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 337 m around an average of 66 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,456 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,444 m.

The land around Basse-Terre is covered by water (50%) and trees (31%) within 3 km, water (63%) and trees (35%) within 16 km, and water (86%) within 80 km.

3 km
337 m
16 km
1,456 m
80 km
1,444 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
May weather nearby: Capesterre-Belle-Eau 19 km · Petit-Bourg 26 km · Baie-Mahault 34 km · Pointe-à-Pitre 34 km · Le Gosier 35 km · Sainte-Rose 37 km · Les Abymes 39 km · Sainte-Anne 45 km

Guadeloupe travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type C / E
230 V · 50 Hz

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 Basse-Terre (15.9971°, -61.7321°, elevation 11 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).