Eshowe weather in May

In May, Eshowe sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 15°C, with 41 mm of rain across 5.6 wet days and about 10.6 hours of daylight. It is the 7th-warmest and 9th-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 66% of the time in May, and the air most often feels comfortable.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 54 min at the start of May to 10 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Eshowe's 3rd-clearest and 12th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Eshowe's year-round climate.

Daytime high
26°
7th warmest
Overnight low
15°
4th coldest
Rainfall
41 mm
5.6 wet days
Daylight
10 h 36 min
6:33 AM – 5:07 PM
Cloud cover
31%
3rd clearest
Wind
10 km/h
12th windiest
Solar energy
3.58 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.0
out of 10

Eshowe is town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Founded
1880

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 Eshowe reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 15°C overnight — a 11°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 21°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 1°C cooler than April and about 2°C warmer than June.

10°15°20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12617
22616
32616
42616
52616
62616
72616
82616
92616
102616
112616
122616
132616
142615
152615
162615
172615
182615
192615
202615
212615
222515
232514
242514
252514
262514
272514
282514
292514
302514
312513

Eshowe weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 7th-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 21°10613.613.64.8
Feb30° / 21°9412.3134.9
Mar29° / 20°8911.912.25.5
Apr27° / 18°638.811.36.9
May26° / 15°415.610.68.0
Jun24° / 13°254.510.28.6
Jul24° / 12°395.110.38.5
Aug25° / 14°295.8118.1
Sep25° / 16°527.911.87.3
Oct26° / 17°7912.212.76.4
Nov27° / 19°9213.213.45.9
Dec28° / 20°9113.113.85.4

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 66% 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 21%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17525
27525
37723
47723
57723
67822
77822
87921
97921
107921
117921
127921
138020
148020
157921
167921
177921
187921
197921
207921
218020
228020
238020
248020
258020
268119
278119
288218
298317
308317
318317

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Eshowe gets around 41 mm of rain over 5.6 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 19% and peaks near 23% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
123
223
322
422
522
621
721
821
921
1020
1120
1220
1320
1419
1519
1618
1718
1818
1917
2017
2117
2217
2316
2416
2516
2616
2716
2816
2916
3016
3116

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, May lands in the comfortable band about 40% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
111314711
212324710
31333468
41334467
51435456
61436445
71538435
81539424
91640404
101641393
111742383
121844362
131945352
142046332
152146321
162247301
172447281
182647271
192847250
203046240
213345220
223544210
233843190
244142170
254341160
264640140
274938130
285137120
295435110
30573490
31603280

Wind in May

Winds average 10 km/h in May, the calmest month.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 10 km/h on the calmest days to 10 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
110calm
210calm
310calm
410calm
510calm
610calm
710calm
810calm
910calm
1010calm
1110calm
1210calm
1310calm
1410calm
1510calm
1610calm
1710calm
1810calm
1910calm
2010calm
2110calm
2210calm
2310calm
2410calm
2510calm
2610calm
2710calm
2810calm
2910calm
3010calm
3110calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 54 min at the start of May to 10 h 18 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 36 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 6:24 AM to 6:42 AM, and sunset from 5:19 PM to 5:01 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.96:245:19
210.96:255:18
310.96:255:17
410.86:265:16
510.86:275:15
610.86:275:14
710.86:285:13
810.76:285:13
910.76:295:12
1010.76:305:11
1110.76:305:11
1210.66:315:10
1310.66:325:09
1410.66:325:08
1510.66:335:08
1610.66:335:07
1710.56:345:07
1810.56:355:06
1910.56:355:06
2010.56:365:05
2110.56:375:05
2210.46:375:04
2310.46:385:04
2410.46:385:03
2510.46:395:03
2610.46:395:02
2710.46:405:02
2810.46:415:02
2910.36:415:01
3010.36:425:01
3110.36:425:01

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 3.58 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.19 kWh/m² to a high of 5.89 kWh/m² in January across the year — May's 3.58 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.8Moderate
23.8Moderate
33.8Moderate
43.8Moderate
53.8Moderate
63.7Moderate
73.7Moderate
83.7Moderate
93.7Moderate
103.7Moderate
113.7Moderate
123.6Moderate
133.6Moderate
143.6Moderate
153.6Moderate
163.6Moderate
173.6Moderate
183.5Moderate
193.5Moderate
203.5Moderate
213.5Moderate
223.5Moderate
233.5Moderate
243.4Moderate
253.4Moderate
263.4Moderate
273.4Moderate
283.4Moderate
293.4Moderate
303.3Moderate
313.3Moderate
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Eshowe

In seasonPeak

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

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

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

Is May a good time to visit Eshowe?

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

8.0
Sightseeing
4th-best month of the year
7.4
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Eshowe in May

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

In May, Eshowe sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 15°C. Worth packing: light clothes. About 6 days see rain.

light clothes

Sea temperature near Eshowe in May

The nearest coast averages about 23°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 31 km away) is warmest in February at about 26°C and coldest in August near 21°C.

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

20°22°24°26°28°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan25Warm
Feb26Warm
Mar25Warm
Apr24Warm
May23Refreshing
Jun22Refreshing
Jul21Refreshing
Aug21Refreshing
Sep21Refreshing
Oct22Refreshing
Nov23Refreshing
Dec24Refreshing

UV index in Eshowe in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 5 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Eshowe peaks around February 9 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 22 at about 4 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeHighModerateHighVery highExtremeExtremeFeb 9UV 12Jun 22UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan12Extreme
Feb12Extreme
Mar11Extreme
Apr6High
May5High
Jun4Moderate
Jul4Moderate
Aug6High
Sep7High
Oct10Extreme
Nov10Very high
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Eshowe 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 Eshowe is worst in July — around 43 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 5.5× the cleanest month (January, 8 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModeratePoorModerateGoodJul 1442 µg/m³Jan 198 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb9Good
Mar13Moderate
Apr20Moderate
May33Moderate
Jun40Poor
Jul43Poor
Aug35Poor
Sep29Moderate
Oct18Moderate
Nov14Moderate
Dec11Good
Location & terrain

Where is Eshowe?

Eshowe sits at 28.9°S, 31.5°E, 539 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Mandeni, 29 km away.

Topography around Eshowe

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Eshowe has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 204 m around an average of 495 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 829 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,787 m.

The land around Eshowe is covered by trees (59%) within 3 km, grassland (42%) and trees (41%) within 16 km, and trees (33%), grassland (31%) and water (21%) within 80 km.

3 km
204 m
16 km
829 m
80 km
1,787 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
May weather nearby: Mandeni 29 km · eSikhaleni 42 km · Empangeni 44 km · KwaDukuza 52 km · Richards Bay 56 km · Ulundi 62 km · Shakaskraal 67 km · Ballitoville 77 km

South Africa travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type C / M / N
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 41% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$6,598
2025
Happiness
5.0 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
68%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
43.7
per 100k, 2022
Road deaths
22.2
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Very high
EF EPI 602
Religion
Christian 86%or other traditional African religions 5%nothing in particular 5%Muslim 2%

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 Eshowe (-28.8865°, 31.4699°, elevation 539 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).