Managua weather in May

In May, Managua sees average daytime highs of 35°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 146 mm of rain across 15 wet days and about 12.6 hours of daylight. It is the 3rd-warmest and 4th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 36°C in the first days to 33°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 14% of the time in May, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 24 min at the start of May to 12 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Managua's 7th-clearest and 9th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Managua's year-round climate.

Daytime high
35°
3rd warmest
Overnight low
25°
12th coldest
Rainfall
146 mm
15 wet days
Daylight
12 h 36 min
5:25 AM – 5:58 PM
Cloud cover
71%
7th clearest
Wind
11 km/h
9th windiest
Solar energy
5.68 kWh/m²
Travel score
2.3
out of 10

Managua is Large urban area on Lake Managua, part of the Municipality of Managua, Nicaragua..

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 36°C in the first days to 33°C by the end.

A typical May day in Managua reaches about 35°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 10°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 31°C and 37°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 2°C cooler than April and about 2°C warmer than June.

20°25°30°35°40°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13625
23625
33625
43625
53625
63625
73625
83625
93625
103525
113525
123525
133525
143525
153525
163525
173425
183425
193425
203425
213425
223425
233325
243325
253325
263325
273325
283325
293325
303325
313325

How May really feels in Managua

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
3 feel dangerously hot (≥ 39°C)
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.

Managua weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 3rd-warmest and 4th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan33° / 23°10.211.44.5
Feb34° / 23°10.211.64.0
Mar35° / 23°10.311.93.2
Apr36° / 25°132.812.32.3
May35° / 25°1461512.62.3
Jun32° / 25°15318.912.72.8
Jul33° / 25°6911.512.63.2
Aug33° / 24°10915.612.42.8
Sep32° / 24°1682212.12.6
Oct31° / 24°18721.111.73.1
Nov33° / 24°466.811.44.0
Dec33° / 23°50.711.34.4

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 14% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 16% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 70%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15248
25149
35050
44951
54852
64753
74555
84456
94258
104060
113862
123565
133367
143169
152872
162773
172575
182377
192278
202080
212080
221981
231882
241783
251783
261783
271684
281684
291783
301684
311684

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Managua gets around 146 mm of rain over 15 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 49% and peaks near 70% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
124
225
326
426
527
628
729
830
932
1033
1136
1238
1341
1444
1547
1650
1753
1856
1958
2061
2163
2265
2366
2467
2569
2669
2770
2870
2970
3070
3169

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 53% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 93% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
121551293
221352303
321252313
421251323
521151333
611052352
711051362
81951372
91949392
101947402
111946423
121843443
131841464
141739494
151736515
161734526
171631557
181629577
191526608
201524619
211422649
2214206510
2303196810
2403176911
2502167111
2602157211
2702147212
2801137412
2901127512
3001127512
3101117513

Wind in May

Winds average 11 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 9 km/h on the calmest days to 13 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
113light breeze
213light breeze
313light breeze
413light breeze
513light breeze
613light breeze
712light breeze
812light breeze
912light breeze
1012light breeze
1112calm
1212calm
1312calm
1411calm
1511calm
1611calm
1711calm
1810calm
1910calm
2010calm
2110calm
2210calm
239calm
249calm
259calm
269calm
279calm
289calm
299calm
309calm
319calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 24 min at the start of May to 12 h 42 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 5:29 AM to 5:23 AM, and sunset from 5:55 PM to 6:02 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.45:295:55
212.45:295:55
312.45:295:55
412.55:285:55
512.55:285:56
612.55:275:56
712.55:275:56
812.55:275:56
912.55:265:56
1012.55:265:57
1112.55:265:57
1212.55:265:57
1312.55:255:57
1412.55:255:57
1512.55:255:58
1612.65:255:58
1712.65:245:58
1812.65:245:58
1912.65:245:59
2012.65:245:59
2112.65:245:59
2212.65:235:59
2312.65:236:00
2412.65:236:00
2512.65:236:00
2612.65:236:01
2712.65:236:01
2812.65:236:01
2912.65:236:01
3012.65:236:02
3112.75:236:02

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.68 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.69 kWh/m² to a high of 6.63 kWh/m² in April across the year — May's 5.68 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.3Intense
26.3Intense
36.3Intense
46.3Intense
56.2Intense
66.2Intense
76.2Intense
86.1Intense
96.1Intense
106.0Intense
116.0Bright
125.9Bright
135.9Bright
145.8Bright
155.8Bright
165.7Bright
175.6Bright
185.6Bright
195.5Bright
205.5Bright
215.4Bright
225.3Bright
235.3Bright
245.3Bright
255.2Bright
265.2Bright
275.2Bright
285.2Bright
295.2Bright
305.2Bright
315.2Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Managua

In seasonPeak

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

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

Managua's rainy season runs August–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 Managua?

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

2.3
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
4.8
Beach & pool
11th-best month of the year

May is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Managua.

What to pack for Managua in May

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

In May, Managua sees daytime highs around 35°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 15 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Managua in May

The nearest coast averages about 29°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 50 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
Apr28Warm
May29Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov28Tropical
Dec28Warm

UV index in Managua 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 Managua peaks around March 22 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 14 at about 9 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highMar 22UV 14Dec 14UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan11Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar14Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May12Extreme
Jun13Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct11Extreme
Nov10Very high
Dec9Very high

Air quality in Managua 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 Managua is worst in July — around 25 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.5× the cleanest month (January, 7 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1625 µg/m³Jan 187 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb9Good
Mar10Good
Apr21Moderate
May24Moderate
Jun21Moderate
Jul25Moderate
Aug20Moderate
Sep15Moderate
Oct13Moderate
Nov11Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Managua?

Managua sits at 12.1°N, 86.3°W, 108 m above sea level, in Nicaragua. The nearest listed city is Ciudad Sandino, 11 km away.

Diriamba

Topography around Managua

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Managua has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 173 m around an average of 110 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 894 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,347 m.

The land around Managua is covered by artificial surfaces (82%) within 3 km, trees (41%) and water (27%) within 16 km, and trees (35%), water (32%) and grassland (26%) within 80 km.

3 km
173 m
16 km
894 m
80 km
1,347 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
May weather nearby: Ciudad Sandino 11 km · El Crucero 17 km · Tipitapa 18 km · Mateare 22 km · Masaya 24 km · San Marcos 25 km · Masatepe 27 km · Diriamba 31 km

Nicaragua travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 34% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$3,173
2025
Happiness
6.3 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
11.3
per 100k, 2021
Road deaths
16.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Lower middle
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 512
Religion
Roman Catholic 45%Protestant 39%none 14%other 1%

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 Managua (12.1328°, -86.2504°, elevation 108 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).