Margate weather in May

In May, Margate sees average daytime highs of 24°C and overnight lows near 15°C, with 34 mm of rain across 4.8 wet days and about 10.5 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 24°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 60% of the time in May, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 48 min at the start of May to 10 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Margate's 3rd-clearest and 11th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Margate's year-round climate.

Daytime high
24°
6th warmest
Overnight low
15°
5th coldest
Rainfall
34 mm
4.8 wet days
Daylight
10 h 24 min
6:42 AM – 5:08 PM
Cloud cover
35%
3rd clearest
Wind
11 km/h
11th windiest
Solar energy
3.5 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.3
out of 10

Margate is town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Density
1,178/km²
people per km²
Founded
1908

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 24°C through the month.

A typical May day in Margate reaches about 24°C in the afternoon and slips back to 15°C overnight — a 9°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 20°C and 28°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)
12416
22416
32416
42416
52415
62415
72415
82415
92415
102415
112415
122415
132415
142415
152415
162415
172415
182414
192414
202414
212414
222414
232414
242414
252414
262314
272313
282313
292313
302313
312313

Margate weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 6th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 20°10614.413.85.8
Feb27° / 20°9012.613.15.9
Mar26° / 19°9312.312.26.3
Apr25° / 17°728.611.37.3
May24° / 15°344.810.58.3
Jun22° / 12°283.6108.4
Jul22° / 12°324.110.28.2
Aug22° / 13°365.410.97.8
Sep22° / 14°608.411.87.0
Oct22° / 16°9113.312.86.1
Nov24° / 17°10113.713.66.0
Dec25° / 19°10514.8145.9

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 60% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 15% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 25%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17129
27228
37228
47327
57327
67426
77426
87525
97525
107426
117525
127525
137525
147624
157525
167525
177525
187525
197525
207525
217525
227525
237624
247723
257723
267822
277822
287921
297921
307921
318020

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Margate gets around 34 mm of rain over 4.8 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 16% and peaks near 22% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
122
222
322
421
521
620
720
820
919
1019
1118
1218
1317
1416
1516
1615
1715
1814
1914
2013
2113
2212
2312
2411
2511
2611
2711
2811
2911
3011
3111

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 45% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
12339344
22440334
32541313
42642302
52743292
62844271
72944261
83045251
93145231
103246221
113346211
123446190
133547180
143747160
153847150
164046140
174245130
184444120
194643110
204941100
21514090
22543880
23573670
24593470
25623260
26662950
27682750
28712540
29732340
30762130
31772030

Wind in May

Winds average 11 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 11 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
1411calm
1511calm
1611calm
1711calm
1811calm
1911calm
2011calm
2111calm
2211calm
2311calm
2411calm
2511calm
2611calm
2711calm
2811calm
2911calm
3011calm
3111calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 48 min at the start of May to 10 h 12 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 6:31 AM to 6:51 AM, and sunset from 5:20 PM to 5:01 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.86:315:20
210.86:325:19
310.86:335:18
410.76:335:17
510.76:345:16
610.76:355:16
710.76:355:15
810.66:365:14
910.66:375:13
1010.66:375:12
1110.66:385:12
1210.56:395:11
1310.56:395:10
1410.56:405:09
1510.56:415:09
1610.46:425:08
1710.46:425:07
1810.46:435:07
1910.46:445:06
2010.46:445:06
2110.36:455:05
2210.36:455:05
2310.36:465:04
2410.36:475:04
2510.36:475:03
2610.26:485:03
2710.26:495:02
2810.26:495:02
2910.26:505:02
3010.26:505:01
3110.26:515:01

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 3.5 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.12 kWh/m² to a high of 5.63 kWh/m² in January across the year — May's 3.5 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.7Moderate
23.7Moderate
33.7Moderate
43.7Moderate
53.7Moderate
63.7Moderate
73.6Moderate
83.6Moderate
93.6Moderate
103.6Moderate
113.6Moderate
123.6Moderate
133.6Moderate
143.5Moderate
153.5Moderate
163.5Moderate
173.5Moderate
183.5Moderate
193.5Moderate
203.4Moderate
213.4Moderate
223.4Moderate
233.4Moderate
243.4Moderate
253.4Moderate
263.3Moderate
273.3Moderate
283.3Moderate
293.3Moderate
303.3Moderate
313.3Moderate
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Margate

In seasonPeak

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

Margate 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 Margate?

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

8.3
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
6.8
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Margate in May

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

In May, Margate sees daytime highs around 24°C and nights near 15°C. Worth packing: light clothes. About 5 days see rain.

light clothes

Sea temperature near Margate in May

The nearest coast averages about 24°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 26°C and coldest in August near 22°C.

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

20°22°24°26°28°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan26Warm
Feb26Warm
Mar26Warm
Apr25Warm
May24Warm
Jun23Refreshing
Jul22Refreshing
Aug22Refreshing
Sep22Refreshing
Oct22Refreshing
Nov23Refreshing
Dec24Warm

UV index in Margate 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 Margate peaks around January 16 at about 13 (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.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highHighModerateHighExtremeJan 16UV 13Jun 22UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan14Extreme
Feb11Extreme
Mar10Very high
Apr6High
May5Moderate
Jun4Moderate
Jul4Moderate
Aug5High
Sep5High
Oct10Extreme
Nov10Extreme
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Margate 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 Margate is worst in July — around 60 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 4.0× the cleanest month (December, 15 µg/m³).

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

020406080JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorUnhealthyPoorModerateJul 1659 µg/m³Dec 2415 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan15Moderate
Feb21Moderate
Mar24Moderate
Apr31Moderate
May47Poor
Jun53Poor
Jul60Unhealthy
Aug52Poor
Sep37Poor
Oct27Moderate
Nov23Moderate
Dec15Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Margate?

Margate sits at 30.9°S, 30.4°E, 20 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Ga-Malakhe, 7.0 km away.

Topography around Margate

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Margate has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 151 m around an average of 41 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 580 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,255 m.

The land around Margate is covered by water (45%) and trees (28%) within 3 km, water (50%), trees (24%) and grassland (21%) within 16 km, and grassland (39%), water (33%) and trees (24%) within 80 km.

3 km
151 m
16 km
580 m
80 km
2,255 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
May weather nearby: Ga-Malakhe 7.0 km · Port Shepstone 16 km · eMuziwezinto 68 km · Scottburgh 74 km · Clydesdale 75 km · eMkhomazi 84 km · Kokstad 97 km · Folweni 105 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 Margate (-30.8636°, 30.3705°, elevation 20 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).