Jeffreys Bay weather in May

In May, Jeffreys Bay sees average daytime highs of 21°C and overnight lows near 14°C, with 36 mm of rain across 6.3 wet days and about 10.3 hours of daylight. It is the 7th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 21°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 47% of the time in May, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 42 min at the start of May to 9 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Jeffreys Bay's 5th-clearest and 11th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Jeffreys Bay's year-round climate.

Daytime high
21°
7th warmest
Overnight low
14°
5th coldest
Rainfall
36 mm
6.3 wet days
Daylight
10 h 12 min
7:10 AM – 5:24 PM
Cloud cover
44%
5th clearest
Wind
15 km/h
11th windiest
Solar energy
3.07 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.3
out of 10

Jeffreys Bay is town in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Density
1,562/km²
people per km²
Founded
1849

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 21°C through the month.

A typical May day in Jeffreys Bay reaches about 21°C in the afternoon and slips back to 14°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 17°C and 26°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°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12115
22115
32115
42115
52115
62114
72114
82114
92114
102114
112114
122114
132114
142114
152114
162114
172114
182114
192114
202114
212114
222114
232114
242113
252113
262013
272013
282013
292013
302013
312013

Jeffreys Bay weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 7th-warmest and 11th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan24° / 18°397.5147.7
Feb24° / 19°417.313.37.5
Mar24° / 18°467.712.37.6
Apr22° / 16°437.211.27.3
May21° / 14°366.310.37.3
Jun19° / 12°366.19.87.1
Jul19° / 12°366.3107.1
Aug19° / 12°527.510.76.8
Sep19° / 13°387.311.86.7
Oct20° / 14°508.312.96.7
Nov21° / 16°568.513.86.9
Dec23° / 17°438.214.27.3

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 47% 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 33%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16832
26832
36832
46832
56733
66733
76832
86832
96733
106832
116733
126832
136733
146634
156634
166634
176535
186535
196436
206436
216436
226535
236436
246535
256535
266634
276733
286733
296832
306832
317030

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Jeffreys Bay gets around 36 mm of rain over 6.3 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 20% and peaks near 22% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
122
222
322
421
521
621
721
820
920
1019
1119
1219
1318
1418
1518
1618
1718
1818
1919
2019
2119
2219
2320
2420
2520
2620
2720
2821
2921
3021
3121

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, May lands in the dry band about 68% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
147458
248457
349447
450446
550446
652435
753425
855414
956404
1057394
1159383
1260373
1362362
1464342
1565332
1667312
1769301
1871281
1973261
2074251
2176231
2278211
2380191
2482180
2584160
2685150
2787130
2888120
2990100
309190
319280

Wind in May

Winds average 15 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 14 km/h on the calmest days to 15 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
114light breeze
214light breeze
314light breeze
414light breeze
514light breeze
614light breeze
714light breeze
814light breeze
914light breeze
1014light breeze
1114light breeze
1214light breeze
1314light breeze
1414light breeze
1514light breeze
1614light breeze
1714light breeze
1814light breeze
1914light breeze
2015light breeze
2115light breeze
2215light breeze
2315light breeze
2415light breeze
2515light breeze
2615light breeze
2715light breeze
2815light breeze
2915light breeze
3015light breeze
3115light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 42 min at the start of May to 9 h 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 48 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 6:58 AM to 7:20 AM, and sunset from 5:37 PM to 5:15 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.76:585:37
210.66:595:36
310.66:595:35
410.67:005:34
510.57:015:33
610.57:025:32
710.57:035:31
810.47:035:30
910.47:045:29
1010.47:055:28
1110.47:065:28
1210.37:065:27
1310.37:075:26
1410.37:085:25
1510.37:095:24
1610.27:105:24
1710.27:105:23
1810.27:115:22
1910.27:125:21
2010.17:135:21
2110.17:135:20
2210.17:145:20
2310.17:155:19
2410.17:155:18
2510.07:165:18
2610.07:175:17
2710.07:175:17
2810.07:185:16
2910.07:195:16
309.97:195:16
319.97:205:15

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 3.07 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.64 kWh/m² to a high of 7.05 kWh/m² in December across the year — May's 3.07 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.5Moderate
23.4Moderate
33.4Moderate
43.4Moderate
53.4Moderate
63.3Moderate
73.3Moderate
83.3Moderate
93.3Moderate
103.2Moderate
113.2Moderate
123.2Moderate
133.2Moderate
143.1Moderate
153.1Moderate
163.1Moderate
173.1Moderate
183.0Moderate
193.0Moderate
203.0Moderate
213.0Moderate
222.9Moderate
232.9Moderate
242.9Moderate
252.9Moderate
262.8Moderate
272.8Moderate
282.8Moderate
292.8Moderate
302.8Moderate
312.8Moderate
Planning a trip in May

Is May a good time to visit Jeffreys Bay?

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

7.3
Sightseeing
4th-best month of the year
4.4
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Jeffreys Bay in May

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

In May, Jeffreys Bay sees daytime highs around 21°C and nights near 14°C. Little to plan around — just the basics. About 6 days see rain.

Sea temperature near Jeffreys Bay in May

The nearest coast averages about 19°C in May — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea offshore is warmest in February at about 21°C and coldest in August near 17°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Dec 23 to Mar 23 — about 3 months when the water holds above 20°C.

16°18°20°22°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan21Refreshing
Feb21Refreshing
Mar20Refreshing
Apr19Cool
May19Cool
Jun18Cool
Jul18Cool
Aug17Cool
Sep17Cool
Oct18Cool
Nov19Cool
Dec20Cool

UV index in Jeffreys Bay 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 Jeffreys Bay peaks around January 15 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 — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highModerateHighVery highExtremeJan 15UV 13Jun 23UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan13Extreme
Feb11Extreme
Mar9Very high
Apr6High
May4Moderate
Jun3Moderate
Jul3Moderate
Aug4Moderate
Sep6High
Oct10Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Jeffreys Bay 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 Jeffreys Bay is worst in June — around 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.5× the cleanest month (February, 7 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJun 1618 µg/m³Feb 97 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb7Good
Mar9Good
Apr10Good
May14Moderate
Jun18Moderate
Jul15Moderate
Aug16Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct11Good
Nov9Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Jeffreys Bay?

Jeffreys Bay sits at 34.0°S, 24.9°E, 49 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Humansdorp, 14 km away.

Somerset EastGrahamstownKnysna

Topography around Jeffreys Bay

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Jeffreys Bay has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 122 m around an average of 31 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 449 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,657 m.

The land around Jeffreys Bay is covered by water (39%), grassland (26%) and artificial surfaces (23%) within 3 km, water (46%) and grassland (32%) within 16 km, and water (37%) and grassland (34%) within 80 km.

3 km
122 m
16 km
449 m
80 km
1,657 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
May weather nearby: Humansdorp 14 km · Kruisfontein 18 km · Kariega 55 km · Port Elizabeth 65 km · Plettenberg Bay 143 km · Somerset East 160 km · Grahamstown 170 km · Knysna 173 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 Jeffreys Bay (-34.0453°, 24.9215°, elevation 49 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).