Puerto Cabezas weather in May

In May, Puerto Cabezas sees average daytime highs of 30°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 185 mm of rain across 21.9 wet days and about 12.6 hours of daylight. It is the 1st-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 30°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 20% of the time in May, and the air most often feels miserable.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 30 min at the start of May to 12 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Puerto Cabezas's 6th-clearest and 9th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Puerto Cabezas's year-round climate.

Daytime high
30°
1st warmest
Overnight low
25°
12th coldest
Rainfall
185 mm
21.9 wet days
Daylight
12 h 36 min
5:10 AM – 5:49 PM
Cloud cover
68%
6th clearest
Wind
12 km/h
9th windiest
Solar energy
5.44 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.8
out of 10

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 30°C through the month.

A typical May day in Puerto Cabezas reaches about 30°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 28°C and 31°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)
13025
23025
33025
43025
53025
63025
73025
83025
93025
103025
113025
123025
133025
143025
153025
163025
173025
183025
192925
202925
212925
222925
232925
242925
252925
262925
272925
282925
292925
302925
312925

How May really feels in Puerto Cabezas

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.

Puerto Cabezas weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan27° / 23°6219.711.35.3
Feb28° / 23°3914.511.55.9
Mar28° / 24°3412.411.96.0
Apr29° / 25°4012.312.35.3
May30° / 25°18521.912.63.8
Jun29° / 25°26127.212.83.1
Jul29° / 25°23327.912.73.2
Aug29° / 25°2292812.53.1
Sep29° / 25°22627.212.13.1
Oct29° / 24°26827.311.73.2
Nov28° / 24°20923.511.34.1
Dec28° / 23°9221.911.24.8

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 20% 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 64%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15743
25743
35545
45446
55347
65149
75050
84951
94753
104555
114357
124060
133862
143664
153565
163367
173070
183070
192872
202773
212674
222575
232476
242476
252476
262377
272476
282476
292476
302476
312575

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Puerto Cabezas gets around 185 mm of rain over 21.9 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 71% and peaks near 86% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
153
254
356
457
558
659
761
862
963
1064
1165
1266
1368
1469
1570
1672
1773
1874
1975
2076
2177
2278
2379
2480
2581
2682
2782
2883
2984
3085
3186

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 68% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
134850
234750
324652
424553
524454
624454
714356
814257
914257
1014158
1114059
1213960
1313762
1413663
1513465
1613267
1713168
1812970
1912871
2012673
2112574
2212475
2302278
2402179
2502080
2601882
2701783
2801684
2901585
3001387
3101288

Wind in May

Winds average 12 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 11 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
212light breeze
312light breeze
412light breeze
512light breeze
612light breeze
712light breeze
812light breeze
912light breeze
1012light breeze
1112light breeze
1212light breeze
1312calm
1412calm
1512calm
1612calm
1712calm
1811calm
1911calm
2011calm
2111calm
2211calm
2311calm
2411calm
2511calm
2611calm
2711calm
2811calm
2911calm
3011calm
3111calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 30 min at the start of May to 12 h 48 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 5:16 AM to 5:08 AM, and sunset from 5:46 PM to 5:54 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.55:165:46
212.55:155:46
312.55:155:46
412.55:155:46
512.55:145:46
612.55:145:47
712.65:135:47
812.65:135:47
912.65:135:47
1012.65:125:48
1112.65:125:48
1212.65:125:48
1312.65:115:48
1412.65:115:49
1512.65:115:49
1612.65:105:49
1712.75:105:50
1812.75:105:50
1912.75:105:50
2012.75:095:50
2112.75:095:51
2212.75:095:51
2312.75:095:51
2412.75:095:52
2512.75:095:52
2612.75:085:52
2712.75:085:53
2812.75:085:53
2912.75:085:53
3012.85:085:53
3112.85:085:54

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.44 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.92 kWh/m² to a high of 6.08 kWh/m² in April across the year — May's 5.44 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.0Bright
25.9Bright
35.9Bright
45.9Bright
55.9Bright
65.8Bright
75.8Bright
85.8Bright
95.7Bright
105.7Bright
115.7Bright
125.6Bright
135.6Bright
145.5Bright
155.5Bright
165.4Bright
175.4Bright
185.3Bright
195.3Bright
205.2Bright
215.2Bright
225.2Bright
235.1Bright
245.1Bright
255.1Bright
265.1Bright
275.1Bright
285.1Bright
295.1Bright
305.1Bright
315.1Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Puerto Cabezas

In seasonPeak

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

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

Puerto Cabezas's rainy season runs May–November, 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 Puerto Cabezas?

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

3.8
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
5.1
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

May is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Puerto Cabezas.

What to pack for Puerto Cabezas in May

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

In May, Puerto Cabezas sees daytime highs around 30°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 22 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Puerto Cabezas 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 18 km away) is warmest in September at about 29°C and coldest in January 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
Apr28Tropical
May29Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov28Tropical
Dec27Warm

UV index in Puerto Cabezas 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 Puerto Cabezas peaks around April 15 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 14 at about 8 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highApr 15UV 13Dec 14UV 8
UV index (midday)Level
Jan10Very high
Feb12Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May12Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov9Very high
Dec8Very high

Air quality in Puerto Cabezas 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 Puerto Cabezas is worst in July — around 36 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 5.4× the cleanest month (November, 7 µg/m³).

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

010203040JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1435 µg/m³Nov 207 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb10Good
Mar11Good
Apr19Moderate
May26Moderate
Jun31Moderate
Jul36Poor
Aug25Moderate
Sep16Moderate
Oct11Good
Nov7Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Puerto Cabezas?

Puerto Cabezas sits at 14.0°N, 83.4°W, 8 m above sea level, in Nicaragua. The nearest listed city is Siuna, 154 km away.

SiunaPearl LagoonRamaBluefieldsRío BlancoDulce Nombre de Culmí

Topography around Puerto Cabezas

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Puerto Cabezas has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 34 m around an average of 9 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 76 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 403 m.

The land around Puerto Cabezas is covered by grassland (29%), water (27%) and trees (21%) within 3 km, water (50%) within 16 km, and water (43%) and trees (22%) within 80 km.

3 km
34 m
16 km
76 m
80 km
403 m
treesgrasslandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetlandmangroves
May weather nearby: Siuna 154 km · Pearl Lagoon 191 km · Rama 227 km · Bluefields 229 km · Río Blanco 233 km · San Andrés 244 km · Dulce Nombre de Culmí 259 km · Iriona 282 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 Puerto Cabezas (14.0351°, -83.3888°, elevation 8 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).