Gonubie weather in May

In May, Gonubie sees average daytime highs of 22°C and overnight lows near 17°C, with 34 mm of rain across 5.7 wet days and about 10.3 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 22°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 53% of the time in May, and the air most often feels comfortable.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 42 min at the start of May to 10 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Gonubie's 4th-clearest and 12th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Gonubie's year-round climate.

Daytime high
22°
6th warmest
Overnight low
17°
6th coldest
Rainfall
34 mm
5.7 wet days
Daylight
10 h 18 min
6:55 AM – 5:13 PM
Cloud cover
40%
4th clearest
Wind
17 km/h
12th windiest
Solar energy
3.21 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.7
out of 10

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 22°C through the month.

A typical May day in Gonubie reaches about 22°C in the afternoon and slips back to 17°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 19°C and 26°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 1°C cooler than April and about 1°C warmer than June.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12218
22218
32218
42218
52217
62217
72217
82217
92217
102217
112217
122217
132217
142217
152217
162217
172217
182217
192217
202217
212217
222217
232217
242216
252216
262216
272116
282116
292116
302116
312116

Gonubie weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 6th-warmest and 11th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan24° / 21°8111.613.96.7
Feb25° / 21°8410.913.26.6
Mar24° / 20°9012.112.36.8
Apr23° / 19°859.611.27.0
May22° / 17°345.710.37.7
Jun21° / 15°344.59.97.7
Jul20° / 14°385.1107.6
Aug20° / 14°476.910.87.1
Sep20° / 15°577.611.86.8
Oct21° / 17°7711.312.86.3
Nov22° / 18°8411.613.76.3
Dec23° / 19°8312.514.16.5

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 53% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 19% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 28%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17030
27030
37030
47030
57030
67129
77129
87129
97129
107129
117030
127129
137129
147129
157030
167030
177030
186931
196931
207030
217030
227030
237228
247228
257426
267426
277525
287624
297723
307723
317822

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Gonubie gets around 34 mm of rain over 5.7 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 24% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
124
224
323
423
522
622
722
821
921
1020
1120
1219
1319
1418
1518
1617
1717
1817
1917
2016
2116
2216
2316
2416
2515
2615
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 43% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
11738377
21839376
31840376
41840375
51841365
61842364
71743364
81745353
91746343
101747332
111847332
121848322
131949311
142049301
152149291
162249281
172449270
182649250
192848240
203047220
213346200
223645190
233943170
244242160
254640140
264938130
275137120
285435110
29583390
30603280
31633070

Wind in May

Winds average 17 km/h in May, the calmest month.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 17 km/h on the calmest days to 18 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
117light breeze
217light breeze
317light breeze
417light breeze
517light breeze
617light breeze
717light breeze
817light breeze
917light breeze
1017light breeze
1117light breeze
1217light breeze
1317light breeze
1417light breeze
1517light breeze
1617light breeze
1717light breeze
1817light breeze
1917light breeze
2017light breeze
2117light breeze
2217light breeze
2317light breeze
2417light breeze
2518light breeze
2618light breeze
2718light breeze
2818light breeze
2918light breeze
3018light breeze
3118light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 42 min at the start of May to 10 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 42 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 6:44 AM to 7:05 AM, and sunset from 5:27 PM to 5:06 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.76:445:27
210.76:445:26
310.76:455:25
410.66:465:24
510.66:475:23
610.66:485:22
710.56:485:21
810.56:495:20
910.56:505:19
1010.56:515:18
1110.46:515:17
1210.46:525:16
1310.46:535:16
1410.46:535:15
1510.36:545:14
1610.36:555:13
1710.36:565:13
1810.36:565:12
1910.26:575:11
2010.26:585:11
2110.26:595:10
2210.26:595:10
2310.27:005:09
2410.17:015:09
2510.17:015:08
2610.17:025:08
2710.17:035:07
2810.17:035:07
2910.07:045:06
3010.07:055:06
3110.07:055:06

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 3.21 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.84 kWh/m² to a high of 6.28 kWh/m² in December across the year — May's 3.21 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.5Moderate
23.5Moderate
33.5Moderate
43.5Moderate
53.4Moderate
63.4Moderate
73.4Moderate
83.4Moderate
93.4Moderate
103.3Moderate
113.3Moderate
123.3Moderate
133.3Moderate
143.3Moderate
153.2Moderate
163.2Moderate
173.2Moderate
183.2Moderate
193.2Moderate
203.1Moderate
213.1Moderate
223.1Moderate
233.1Moderate
243.1Moderate
253.0Moderate
263.0Moderate
273.0Moderate
283.0Moderate
293.0Moderate
303.0Moderate
313.0Moderate
Planning a trip in May

Is May a good time to visit Gonubie?

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

7.7
Sightseeing
1st-best month of the year
5.2
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

May is one of the better times to visit Gonubie for general sightseeing.

What to pack for Gonubie in May

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

In May, Gonubie sees daytime highs around 22°C and nights near 17°C. Little to plan around — just the basics. About 6 days see rain.

Sea temperature near Gonubie 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 13 km away) is warmest in February at about 25°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°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan24Warm
Feb25Warm
Mar25Warm
Apr24Warm
May23Refreshing
Jun22Refreshing
Jul21Refreshing
Aug21Refreshing
Sep21Refreshing
Oct21Refreshing
Nov22Refreshing
Dec23Refreshing

UV index in Gonubie in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 4 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Gonubie peaks around January 16 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 23 at about 3 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highHighModerateHighExtremeJan 16UV 13Jun 23UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan13Extreme
Feb11Extreme
Mar9Very high
Apr6High
May4Moderate
Jun3Moderate
Jul3Moderate
Aug5Moderate
Sep6High
Oct10Very high
Nov11Extreme
Dec11Extreme

Air quality in Gonubie 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 Gonubie is worst in August — around 20 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.6× the cleanest month (February, 8 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodAug 1520 µg/m³Feb 98 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb8Good
Mar9Good
Apr12Good
May15Moderate
Jun17Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug20Moderate
Sep16Moderate
Oct12Moderate
Nov9Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Gonubie?

Gonubie sits at 32.9°S, 28.0°E, 30 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is East London, 12 km away.

Topography around Gonubie

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Gonubie has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 102 m around an average of 25 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 336 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,505 m.

The land around Gonubie is covered by water (42%) and trees (29%) within 3 km, water (50%) and trees (28%) within 16 km, and water (33%), grassland (32%) and trees (25%) within 80 km.

3 km
102 m
16 km
336 m
80 km
1,505 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
May weather nearby: East London 12 km · Mdantsane 22 km · Ndevana 47 km · Bhisho 55 km · Qonce 58 km · Stutterheim 69 km · Butterworth 69 km · Dimbaza 75 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 Gonubie (-32.9443°, 28.015°, elevation 30 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. 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).