Semporna weather in May

In May, Semporna sees average daytime highs of 31°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 229 mm of rain across 28 wet days and about 12.2 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 31°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 10% of the time in May, and the air most often feels miserable.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 12 min at the start of May to 12 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Semporna's 3rd-clearest and 11th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Semporna's year-round climate.

Daytime high
31°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
25°
12th coldest
Rainfall
229 mm
28 wet days
Daylight
12 h 12 min
5:56 AM – 6:08 PM
Cloud cover
75%
3rd clearest
Wind
7 km/h
11th windiest
Solar energy
5.35 kWh/m²
Travel score
2.8
out of 10

Semporna is human settlement in Malaysia.

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 31°C through the month.

A typical May day in Semporna reaches about 31°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 6°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 29°C and 32°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)
13125
23125
33125
43125
53125
63125
73125
83125
93125
103125
113125
123125
133125
143125
153125
163125
173125
183025
193025
203025
213025
223025
233025
243025
253025
263025
273025
283025
293025
303025
313025

How May really feels in Semporna

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.

Semporna weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 2nd-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 24°20522.911.83.5
Feb30° / 24°1461911.93.7
Mar30° / 25°16721.1123.5
Apr31° / 25°17323.512.13.1
May31° / 25°2292812.22.8
Jun30° / 25°22226.612.32.9
Jul30° / 25°19325.912.23.1
Aug30° / 25°16624.812.13.2
Sep30° / 25°17924.9123.0
Oct30° / 25°24028.311.92.8
Nov30° / 25°22327.611.82.8
Dec30° / 25°22427.411.73.0

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 10% 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 73%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12971
22872
32773
42773
52674
62575
72476
82476
92476
102476
112476
122575
132674
142674
152773
162872
172872
183070
193070
203070
213070
223070
233070
243070
253070
262971
272971
282872
292773
302773
312575

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Semporna gets around 229 mm of rain over 28 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 90% and peaks near 91% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
186
287
387
488
589
689
790
890
991
1091
1191
1291
1391
1491
1591
1691
1791
1891
1991
2090
2190
2290
2390
2490
2590
2690
2789
2889
2989
3089
3189

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 97% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1694
2595
3496
4496
5397
6397
7397
8298
9298
10298
11298
12298
13298
14298
15298
16298
17298
18298
19298
20397
21397
22397
23496
24496
25496
26595
27595
28595
29694
30694
31793

Wind in May

Winds average 7 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 7 km/h on the calmest days to 7 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
17calm
27calm
37calm
47calm
57calm
67calm
77calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

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

Days grow by about 0 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:58 AM to 5:56 AM, and sunset from 6:07 PM to 6:10 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.25:586:07
212.25:586:07
312.25:586:07
412.25:576:07
512.25:576:07
612.25:576:07
712.25:576:07
812.25:576:07
912.25:576:07
1012.25:566:07
1112.25:566:08
1212.25:566:08
1312.25:566:08
1412.25:566:08
1512.25:566:08
1612.25:566:08
1712.25:566:08
1812.25:566:08
1912.25:566:08
2012.25:556:08
2112.25:556:08
2212.25:556:09
2312.25:556:09
2412.25:556:09
2512.25:556:09
2612.25:566:09
2712.25:566:09
2812.25:566:10
2912.25:566:10
3012.25:566:10
3112.25:566:10

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.35 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.79 kWh/m² to a high of 5.82 kWh/m² in April across the year — May's 5.35 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.5Bright
25.5Bright
35.5Bright
45.5Bright
55.5Bright
65.4Bright
75.4Bright
85.4Bright
95.4Bright
105.3Bright
115.3Bright
125.3Bright
135.3Bright
145.3Bright
155.3Bright
165.3Bright
175.3Bright
185.3Bright
195.3Bright
205.3Bright
215.3Bright
225.3Bright
235.3Bright
245.3Bright
255.3Bright
265.3Bright
275.3Bright
285.3Bright
295.3Bright
305.2Bright
315.2Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Semporna

In seasonPeak

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

Semporna sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.

Pacific typhoon
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is May a good time to visit Semporna?

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

2.8
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
4.0
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

May is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Semporna.

What to pack for Semporna in May

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

In May, Semporna sees daytime highs around 31°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 28 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Semporna in May

The nearest coast averages about 30°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 May at about 30°C and coldest in January near 28°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
Jan28Tropical
Feb28Tropical
Mar29Tropical
Apr29Tropical
May30Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec29Tropical

UV index in Semporna in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 14 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Semporna peaks around March 18 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 14 at about 11 (extreme).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeMar 18UV 15Dec 14UV 11
UV index (midday)Level
Jan13Extreme
Feb14Extreme
Mar15Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May14Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep13Extreme
Oct13Extreme
Nov12Extreme
Dec11Extreme

Air quality in Semporna 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 Semporna is worst in September — around 15 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.9× the cleanest month (January, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodSep 1715 µg/m³Jan 18 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb9Good
Mar10Good
Apr10Good
May9Good
Jun9Good
Jul10Good
Aug13Moderate
Sep15Moderate
Oct14Moderate
Nov9Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Semporna?

Semporna sits at 4.5°N, 118.6°E, 7 m above sea level, in Malaysia. The nearest listed city is Lahad Datu, 68 km away.

BongaoSandakanTarakanTanjung Selor

Topography around Semporna

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Semporna has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 19 m around an average of 3 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 366 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,262 m.

The land around Semporna is covered by water (47%) within 3 km, water (63%) and trees (23%) within 16 km, and water (67%) and trees (30%) within 80 km.

3 km
19 m
16 km
366 m
80 km
1,262 m
treesgrasslandartificial surfaceswatermangroves
May weather nearby: Lahad Datu 68 km · Tawau 84 km · Sitangkai 89 km · Nunukan 113 km · Bongao 142 km · Sandakan 161 km · Tarakan 172 km · Tanjung Selor 229 km

Malaysia travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type C / G / M
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 32% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$13,125
2025
Happiness
6.0 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
95%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
0.7
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
22.5
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
High
EF EPI 581
Religion
Muslim 64%Buddhist 19%Christian 9%Hindu 6%

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 Semporna (4.4818°, 118.6112°, elevation 7 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).