Watamu weather in May

In May, Watamu sees average daytime highs of 29°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 152 mm of rain across 21.2 wet days and about 11.8 hours of daylight. It is the 7th-warmest and 1st-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 40% of the time in May, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 54 min at the start of May to 11 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Watamu's 10th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Watamu's year-round climate.

Daytime high
29°
7th warmest
Overnight low
25°
9th coldest
Rainfall
152 mm
21.2 wet days
Daylight
11 h 48 min
6:21 AM – 6:12 PM
Cloud cover
54%
10th clearest
Wind
20 km/h
4th windiest
Solar energy
4.88 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.3
out of 10

Watamu is human settlement.

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 29°C through the month.

A typical May day in Watamu reaches about 29°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 4°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 27°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 2°C cooler than April and about 1°C warmer than June.

20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13025
23025
33025
42925
52925
62925
72925
82925
92925
102925
112925
122925
132925
142925
152925
162925
172925
182925
192925
202925
212925
222925
232925
242925
252925
262925
272825
282825
292825
302825
312824

How May really feels in Watamu

Once humidity and wind are folded in, May averages 20 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
20
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.

Watamu weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 7th-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan31° / 25°142.612.25.5
Feb31° / 25°71.512.15.4
Mar32° / 25°359.9124.3
Apr31° / 26°962211.93.4
May29° / 25°15221.211.84.3
Jun28° / 24°6114.811.85.6
Jul27° / 23°4412.511.86.1
Aug27° / 23°3412.211.96.4
Sep28° / 23°3010.9126.4
Oct29° / 24°6512.612.15.5
Nov30° / 25°6014.912.24.6
Dec31° / 25°4411.412.24.7

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 40% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 19% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 41%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15347
25347
35347
45347
55347
65446
75446
85545
95644
105743
115842
125941
135941
146040
156040
166139
176139
186139
196139
206139
216238
226238
236337
246337
256337
266337
276337
286337
296436
306436
316436

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Watamu gets around 152 mm of rain over 21.2 wet days in May, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 68% and peaks near 75% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
175
275
375
474
574
673
773
872
971
1070
1170
1269
1369
1468
1568
1668
1768
1868
1967
2067
2166
2266
2365
2465
2564
2664
2763
2862
2961
3060
3158

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 89% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
107525
207723
307822
408020
508119
608317
708416
808515
918613
1018712
1118811
1218910
131909
141918
151927
161936
171945
181945
191954
201954
212953
222953
232962
243952
253952
264951
274951
285941
296931
307921
318911

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
719light breeze
820light breeze
920light breeze
1020light breeze
1120light breeze
1220light breeze
1320breezy
1420breezy
1520breezy
1620breezy
1720breezy
1820breezy
1920breezy
2021breezy
2121breezy
2221breezy
2321breezy
2421breezy
2521breezy
2621breezy
2721breezy
2821breezy
2921breezy
3021breezy
3121breezy

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 54 min at the start of May to 11 h 48 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 6:21 AM to 6:23 AM, and sunset from 6:14 PM to 6:12 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.96:216:14
211.96:216:13
311.96:206:13
411.96:206:13
511.96:206:13
611.96:206:13
711.96:206:13
811.96:206:12
911.96:206:12
1011.96:206:12
1111.96:206:12
1211.96:206:12
1311.96:216:12
1411.96:216:12
1511.96:216:12
1611.86:216:12
1711.86:216:12
1811.86:216:12
1911.86:216:11
2011.86:216:11
2111.86:216:11
2211.86:216:11
2311.86:216:11
2411.86:226:12
2511.86:226:12
2611.86:226:12
2711.86:226:12
2811.86:226:12
2911.86:226:12
3011.86:226:12
3111.86:236:12

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 4.88 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.88 kWh/m² to a high of 6.58 kWh/m² in February across the year — May's 4.88 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.0Bright
25.0Bright
35.0Bright
45.0Bright
54.9Bright
64.9Bright
74.9Bright
84.9Bright
94.9Bright
104.9Bright
114.9Bright
124.9Bright
134.9Bright
144.9Bright
154.9Bright
164.9Bright
174.9Bright
184.9Bright
194.9Bright
204.9Bright
214.9Bright
224.9Bright
234.9Bright
244.9Bright
254.9Bright
264.9Bright
274.9Bright
284.9Bright
294.9Bright
304.9Bright
315.0Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Watamu

In seasonPeak

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

Watamu's rainy season runs April–May, 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 Watamu?

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

4.3
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
5.4
Beach & pool
11th-best month of the year

May is a reasonable time to visit Watamu for sightseeing.

What to pack for Watamu in May

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

In May, Watamu sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection and a windbreaker. About 21 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protectiona windbreaker

Sea temperature near Watamu 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 offshore is warmest in April at about 29°C and coldest in August 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
Jan27Warm
Feb28Warm
Mar29Tropical
Apr29Tropical
May28Warm
Jun27Warm
Jul26Warm
Aug25Warm
Sep26Warm
Oct27Warm
Nov28Warm
Dec28Tropical

UV index in Watamu 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 Watamu peaks around March 19 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 18 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 19UV 15Jun 18UV 10
UV index (midday)Level
Jan14Extreme
Feb14Extreme
Mar15Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun9Very high
Jul10Extreme
Aug11Extreme
Sep13Extreme
Oct13Extreme
Nov13Extreme
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Watamu 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 Watamu is worst in January — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.8× the cleanest month (October, 9 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateGoodModerateJan 1716 µg/m³Oct 209 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan16Moderate
Feb15Moderate
Mar13Moderate
Apr10Good
May11Good
Jun13Moderate
Jul14Moderate
Aug11Good
Sep10Good
Oct9Good
Nov9Good
Dec14Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Watamu?

Watamu sits at 3.4°S, 40.0°E, 6 m above sea level, in Kenya. The nearest listed city is Malindi, 18 km away.

MtwapaMariakaniJomvuMazerasMombasaMatuga

Topography around Watamu

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Watamu has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 23 m around an average of 6 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 152 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 518 m.

The land around Watamu is covered by water (46%) and trees (28%) within 3 km, water (47%) and trees (32%) within 16 km, and water (36%), shrubs (29%) and trees (21%) within 80 km.

3 km
23 m
16 km
152 m
80 km
518 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwatermangroves
May weather nearby: Malindi 18 km · Kilifi 36 km · Mtwapa 72 km · Mariakani 83 km · Jomvu 84 km · Mazeras 86 km · Mombasa 87 km · Matuga 103 km

Kenya travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type G
240 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 34% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$2,363
2025
Happiness
4.7 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
4.9
per 100k, 2022
Road deaths
28.3
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Lower middle
World Bank
English
High
EF EPI 593
Religion
Christian 86%Muslim 11%other 2%none 2%

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 Watamu (-3.3533°, 40.0209°, 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. 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).