San Carlos weather in May

In May, San Carlos sees average daytime highs of 31°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 180 mm of rain across 22.8 wet days and about 12.5 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 6th-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 8% 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 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is San Carlos's 7th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see San Carlos's year-round climate.

Daytime high
31°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
24°
12th coldest
Rainfall
180 mm
22.8 wet days
Daylight
12 h 30 min
5:20 AM – 5:51 PM
Cloud cover
78%
7th clearest
Wind
10 km/h
8th windiest
Solar energy
4.78 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.2
out of 10

San Carlos is Urban area of the San Carlos Municipality in Nicaragua. Seat of the San Carlos Municipality..

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 San Carlos reaches about 31°C in the afternoon and slips back to 24°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 about 1°C warmer than June.

20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13124
23124
33125
43125
53125
63125
73125
83125
93125
103125
113125
123125
133125
143125
153125
163125
173125
183025
193025
203024
213024
223024
233024
243024
253024
263024
273024
283024
293024
303024
313024

How May really feels in San Carlos

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.

San Carlos weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 2nd-warmest and 6th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan28° / 23°3614.911.45.8
Feb29° / 23°2510.111.65.7
Mar30° / 23°166.611.95.6
Apr31° / 24°308.712.24.5
May31° / 24°18022.812.53.2
Jun30° / 24°24528.912.62.7
Jul29° / 24°22029.412.62.9
Aug29° / 24°21829.712.42.8
Sep30° / 24°2522912.12.7
Oct29° / 24°26329.111.83.0
Nov29° / 23°14722.611.53.9
Dec28° / 23°641811.45.0

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 8% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 13% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 79%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13763
23664
33466
43367
53367
63268
73169
83070
92872
102773
112674
122476
132377
142179
152080
161981
171882
181684
191684
201585
211585
221486
231486
241387
251387
261288
271189
281189
291090
301090
311090

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

San Carlos gets around 180 mm of rain over 22.8 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 74% and peaks near 92% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
151
252
354
455
556
657
758
860
961
1063
1165
1267
1369
1471
1573
1675
1778
1880
1981
2083
2185
2286
2387
2488
2588
2689
2790
2890
2991
3091
3192

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 75% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
178211
278211
368311
468311
558411
658411
758312
848412
948313
1048214
1148115
1238116
1338017
1437918
1527820
1627721
1727523
1817524
1917326
2017227
2117128
2216930
2316831
2416732
2506832
2606733
2706634
2806535
2906436
3006436
3106337

Wind in May

Winds average 10 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 9 km/h on the calmest days to 11 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
111calm
211calm
311calm
411calm
511calm
611calm
711calm
811calm
911calm
1011calm
1111calm
1211calm
1311calm
1410calm
1510calm
1610calm
1710calm
1810calm
1910calm
209calm
219calm
229calm
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 36 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 12 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:25 AM to 5:19 AM, and sunset from 5:48 PM to 5:54 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.45:255:48
212.45:245:48
312.45:245:48
412.45:235:48
512.45:235:49
612.45:235:49
712.45:225:49
812.45:225:49
912.55:225:49
1012.55:225:49
1112.55:215:50
1212.55:215:50
1312.55:215:50
1412.55:215:50
1512.55:205:50
1612.55:205:51
1712.55:205:51
1812.55:205:51
1912.55:205:51
2012.55:195:52
2112.55:195:52
2212.55:195:52
2312.65:195:52
2412.65:195:53
2512.65:195:53
2612.65:195:53
2712.65:195:53
2812.65:195:54
2912.65:195:54
3012.65:195:54
3112.65:195:54

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 4.78 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.57 kWh/m² to a high of 5.62 kWh/m² in April across the year — May's 4.78 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.3Bright
25.3Bright
35.3Bright
45.2Bright
55.2Bright
65.2Bright
75.1Bright
85.1Bright
95.0Bright
105.0Bright
114.9Bright
124.9Bright
134.8Bright
144.8Bright
154.8Bright
164.7Bright
174.7Bright
184.7Bright
194.6Bright
204.6Bright
214.6Bright
224.6Bright
234.5Bright
244.5Bright
254.5Bright
264.5Bright
274.5Bright
284.5Bright
294.5Bright
304.5Bright
314.5Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for San Carlos

In seasonPeak

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

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

San Carlos'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 San Carlos?

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

3.2
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
4.6
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

May is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in San Carlos.

What to pack for San Carlos in May

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

In May, San Carlos sees daytime highs around 31°C and nights near 24°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 23 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

UV index in San Carlos 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 San Carlos peaks around March 19 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 16 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 19UV 14Dec 16UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan11Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar14Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May12Extreme
Jun13Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct11Extreme
Nov10Extreme
Dec9Very high

Air quality in San Carlos 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 San Carlos is worst in July — around 24 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.6× the cleanest month (December, 7 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1623 µg/m³Dec 127 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb9Good
Mar10Good
Apr18Moderate
May22Moderate
Jun20Moderate
Jul24Moderate
Aug19Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct10Good
Nov7Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is San Carlos?

San Carlos sits at 11.1°N, 84.8°W, 0 m above sea level, in Nicaragua. The nearest listed city is El Castillo, 43 km away.

El CastilloSan JoséNueva GuineaLiberia

Topography around San Carlos

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around San Carlos has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 67 m around an average of 35 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 152 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,960 m.

The land around San Carlos is covered by water (46%) and trees (35%) within 3 km, water (39%), grassland (30%) and trees (29%) within 16 km, and trees (52%) and grassland (28%) within 80 km.

3 km
67 m
16 km
152 m
80 km
1,960 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
May weather nearby: El Castillo 43 km · San José 44 km · Nueva Guinea 72 km · La Fortuna 74 km · Cañas 85 km · Liberia 90 km · Monteverde 91 km · Quesada 97 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 San Carlos (11.1271°, -84.7779°, elevation 0 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). 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).