Quelimane weather in May

In May, Quelimane sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 35 mm of rain across 8.5 wet days and about 11.2 hours of daylight. It is the 8th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 73% of the time in May, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 24 min at the start of May to 11 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Quelimane's 5th-clearest and 12th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Quelimane's year-round climate.

Daytime high
26°
8th warmest
Overnight low
23°
5th coldest
Rainfall
35 mm
8.5 wet days
Daylight
11 h 12 min
5:54 AM – 5:04 PM
Cloud cover
30%
5th clearest
Wind
13 km/h
12th windiest
Solar energy
4.55 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.5
out of 10

Quelimane is city in Mozambique.

Density
2,990/km²
people per km²
Founded
1942

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 26°C through the month.

A typical May day in Quelimane reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 23°C overnight — a 3°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 25°C and 27°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 2°C cooler than April and about 1°C warmer than June.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12724
22724
32724
42624
52624
62624
72624
82623
92623
102623
112623
122623
132623
142623
152623
162623
172623
182623
192623
202623
212623
222623
232623
242623
252522
262522
272522
282522
292522
302522
312522

How May really feels in Quelimane

Once humidity and wind are folded in, May averages 0 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
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

May sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Quelimane weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 8th-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 26°22120.9134.2
Feb29° / 26°15318.312.64.3
Mar28° / 26°14618.412.14.9
Apr27° / 25°7313.411.66.3
May26° / 23°358.511.27.5
Jun25° / 22°267.810.97.8
Jul24° / 21°267.8118.0
Aug24° / 22°144.111.48.6
Sep26° / 23°123.211.98.6
Oct27° / 24°154.312.48.1
Nov28° / 25°406.112.87.1
Dec29° / 26°10813.713.15.3

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 73% 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 9%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
1919
2919
3919
49010
59010
69010
79010
89010
99010
109010
119010
128911
139010
149010
159010
169010
179010
189010
199010
20919
21919
22919
23919
24919
25919
26928
27928
28928
29937
30937
31937

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Quelimane gets around 35 mm of rain over 8.5 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 28% and peaks near 33% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
133
232
332
431
530
629
729
828
928
1028
1128
1228
1328
1428
1528
1628
1728
1828
1928
2028
2128
2228
2327
2427
2526
2626
2725
2825
2925
3025
3126

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, May lands in the muggy band about 58% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 88% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
10546454
20547444
30649433
40650423
50651412
60751402
70753391
80754381
90854371
100855361
110955351
120958330
130959320
1401059310
1501060300
1601062280
1701162270
1801163260
1901164250
2011262250
2111362240
2211363230
2311463220
2411563210
2511663200
2611764180
2711963170
2812063160
2912163150
3012362140
3112462130

Wind in May

Winds average 13 km/h in May, the calmest month.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 13 km/h on the calmest days to 14 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
114light breeze
214light breeze
314light breeze
414light breeze
514light breeze
614light breeze
714light breeze
814light breeze
914light breeze
1014light breeze
1114light breeze
1214light breeze
1314light breeze
1414light breeze
1513light breeze
1613light breeze
1713light breeze
1813light breeze
1913light breeze
2013light breeze
2113light breeze
2213light breeze
2313light breeze
2413light breeze
2513light breeze
2613light breeze
2713light breeze
2813light breeze
2913light breeze
3014light breeze
3114light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 24 min at the start of May to 11 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 24 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:49 AM to 5:59 AM, and sunset from 5:11 PM to 5:00 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.45:495:11
211.35:495:10
311.35:495:09
411.35:505:09
511.35:505:08
611.35:505:08
711.35:515:07
811.35:515:07
911.35:515:06
1011.25:525:06
1111.25:525:05
1211.25:525:05
1311.25:535:05
1411.25:535:04
1511.25:535:04
1611.25:545:04
1711.25:545:03
1811.15:555:03
1911.15:555:03
2011.15:555:02
2111.15:565:02
2211.15:565:02
2311.15:565:02
2411.15:575:01
2511.15:575:01
2611.15:575:01
2711.05:585:01
2811.05:585:01
2911.05:595:01
3011.05:595:00
3111.05:595:00

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 4.55 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.04 kWh/m² to a high of 7.05 kWh/m² in November across the year — May's 4.55 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

024151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.9Bright
24.9Bright
34.9Bright
44.8Bright
54.8Bright
64.8Bright
74.8Bright
84.7Bright
94.7Bright
104.7Bright
114.7Bright
124.6Bright
134.6Bright
144.6Bright
154.5Bright
164.5Bright
174.5Bright
184.5Bright
194.5Bright
204.4Bright
214.4Bright
224.4Bright
234.4Bright
244.4Bright
254.3Bright
264.3Bright
274.3Bright
284.3Bright
294.3Bright
304.3Bright
314.2Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Quelimane

In seasonPeak

None of Quelimane's seasonal hazards are active in May. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Quelimane sits in the South Indian Ocean cyclone belt; the season peaks January–March.

Quelimane's monsoon runs December–March, when most of the year's rain falls.

Cyclone
Monsoon
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is May a good time to visit Quelimane?

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

7.5
Sightseeing
6th-best month of the year
7.0
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

May is one of the better times to visit Quelimane for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Quelimane in May

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

In May, Quelimane sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 23°C. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 9 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Quelimane 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 25 km away) is warmest in February at about 29°C and coldest in July near 24°C.

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

22°24°26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan29Tropical
Feb29Tropical
Mar29Tropical
Apr28Tropical
May27Warm
Jun25Warm
Jul24Warm
Aug24Warm
Sep25Warm
Oct26Warm
Nov27Warm
Dec28Tropical

UV index in Quelimane in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 8 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Quelimane peaks around January 16 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 20 at about 7 (high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highHighVery highExtremeJan 16UV 14Jun 20UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan14Extreme
Feb14Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr10Extreme
May8Very high
Jun7High
Jul7Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep10Very high
Oct12Extreme
Nov12Extreme
Dec14Extreme

Air quality in Quelimane 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 Quelimane is worst in September — around 32 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.9× the cleanest month (April, 7 µg/m³).

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

010203040JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodSep 1631 µg/m³Apr 117 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb7Good
Mar7Good
Apr7Good
May7Good
Jun8Good
Jul12Good
Aug22Moderate
Sep32Moderate
Oct21Moderate
Nov14Moderate
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Quelimane?

Quelimane sits at 17.9°S, 36.9°E, 9 m above sea level, in Mozambique. The nearest listed city is Namacurra, 46 km away.

MarromeuMocubaPebaneMorrumbalaCaia

Topography around Quelimane

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Quelimane has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 10 m around an average of 4 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 19 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 191 m.

The land around Quelimane is covered by artificial surfaces (35%) and water (20%) within 3 km, wetland (25%), grassland (23%) and cropland (21%) within 16 km, and trees (29%) and water (27%) within 80 km.

3 km
10 m
16 km
19 m
80 km
191 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetlandmangroves
May weather nearby: Namacurra 46 km · Chinde 90 km · Maganja 91 km · Marromeu 110 km · Mocuba 116 km · Pebane 149 km · Morrumbala 151 km · Caia 164 km

Mozambique travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type C / F / M
220 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 37% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$627
2025
Happiness
5.3 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
28%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
3.6
per 100k, 2011
Road deaths
30
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Low
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 465
Religion
Catholic 27%Islam 19%Pentecostal 17%Saio/Zione 16%

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 Quelimane (-17.8786°, 36.8883°, 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).