Mtubatuba weather in May

In May, Mtubatuba sees average daytime highs of 25°C and overnight lows near 18°C, with 50 mm of rain across 6.8 wet days and about 10.6 hours of daylight. It is the 7th-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 25°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 67% of the time in May, and the air most often feels humid.

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 Mtubatuba's 3rd-clearest and 9th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Mtubatuba's year-round climate.

Daytime high
25°
7th warmest
Overnight low
18°
5th coldest
Rainfall
50 mm
6.8 wet days
Daylight
10 h 36 min
6:30 AM – 5:05 PM
Cloud cover
30%
3rd clearest
Wind
15 km/h
9th windiest
Solar energy
3.59 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.8
out of 10

Mtubatuba is small town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Founded
1903

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 25°C through the month.

A typical May day in Mtubatuba reaches about 25°C in the afternoon and slips back to 18°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 22°C and 28°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 2°C cooler than April and about 1°C warmer than June.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12619
22619
32619
42619
52619
62619
72619
82619
92619
102619
112618
122618
132618
142618
152518
162518
172518
182518
192518
202518
212518
222518
232517
242517
252517
262517
272517
282517
292517
302517
312517

Mtubatuba weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 7th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 23°10312.913.65.2
Feb29° / 23°9811.5135.2
Mar29° / 22°10212.512.25.7
Apr27° / 20°7410.211.36.8
May25° / 18°506.810.67.8
Jun24° / 16°36610.28.3
Jul23° / 16°406.210.48.2
Aug24° / 17°345.9118.2
Sep25° / 18°487.711.87.5
Oct25° / 19°7110.712.76.7
Nov26° / 20°8711.713.46.1
Dec28° / 22°8511.213.85.8

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 67% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 19%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17822
27822
37822
48020
58020
68119
78119
88119
98119
108218
118218
128218
138218
148218
158218
168119
178119
188119
198119
208119
218119
228119
238119
248119
258218
268317
278317
288317
298317
308416
318416

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Mtubatuba gets around 50 mm of rain over 6.8 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 23% and peaks near 29% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
129
228
327
426
526
625
725
824
924
1023
1123
1223
1322
1422
1522
1621
1721
1821
1921
2021
2121
2221
2321
2420
2520
2620
2720
2821
2921
3021
3121

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, May lands in the humid band about 49% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 18% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
131643371
241645351
341646341
441646331
541747321
641748311
741749300
841849290
941851270
1041951260
1141952250
1241954230
1352053220
1452055200
1552057180
1662156170
1762257150
1872356140
1982455130
2092555110
21102654100
2211275390
2313285180
2414295070
2516304960
2617314750
2719324540
2820334340
2922334130
3024343930
3126353720

Wind in May

Winds average 15 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 15 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
115light breeze
215light breeze
315light breeze
415light breeze
515light breeze
615light breeze
715light breeze
815light breeze
915light breeze
1015light breeze
1115light breeze
1215light breeze
1315light breeze
1415light breeze
1515light breeze
1615light breeze
1715light breeze
1815light breeze
1915light 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 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 6:21 AM to 6:38 AM, and sunset from 5:16 PM to 4:59 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.96:215:16
210.96:215:15
310.96:225:15
410.96:225:14
510.86:235:13
610.86:245:12
710.86:245:11
810.86:255:11
910.76:265:10
1010.76:265:09
1110.76:275:08
1210.76:275:08
1310.76:285:07
1410.66:295:06
1510.66:295:06
1610.66:305:05
1710.66:305:05
1810.66:315:04
1910.56:325:04
2010.56:325:03
2110.56:335:03
2210.56:335:02
2310.56:345:02
2410.46:355:01
2510.46:355:01
2610.46:365:00
2710.46:365:00
2810.46:375:00
2910.46:374:59
3010.46:384:59
3110.36:384:59

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 3.59 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.17 kWh/m² to a high of 6.06 kWh/m² in January across the year — May's 3.59 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.8Moderate
23.8Moderate
33.8Moderate
43.8Moderate
53.7Moderate
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 Mtubatuba

In seasonPeak

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

Mtubatuba 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 Mtubatuba?

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

7.8
Sightseeing
4th-best month of the year
7.1
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Mtubatuba in May

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

In May, Mtubatuba sees daytime highs around 25°C and nights near 18°C. Worth packing: light clothes. About 7 days see rain.

light clothes

Sea temperature near Mtubatuba in May

The nearest coast averages about 25°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 30 km away) is warmest in February at about 27°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°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb27Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr26Warm
May25Warm
Jun24Refreshing
Jul23Refreshing
Aug22Refreshing
Sep22Refreshing
Oct23Refreshing
Nov24Warm
Dec25Warm

UV index in Mtubatuba 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 Mtubatuba peaks around February 10 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 highExtremeFeb 10UV 12Jun 22UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan12Extreme
Feb12Extreme
Mar11Extreme
Apr6High
May5High
Jun4Moderate
Jul4Moderate
Aug6High
Sep7High
Oct10Extreme
Nov10Very high
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Mtubatuba 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 Mtubatuba is worst in July — around 25 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.4× the cleanest month (January, 7 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1424 µg/m³Jan 187 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb8Good
Mar11Good
Apr18Moderate
May20Moderate
Jun23Moderate
Jul25Moderate
Aug22Moderate
Sep20Moderate
Oct14Moderate
Nov11Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Mtubatuba?

Mtubatuba sits at 28.4°S, 32.2°E, 66 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Richards Bay, 43 km away.

Topography around Mtubatuba

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Mtubatuba has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 120 m around an average of 69 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 209 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,046 m.

The land around Mtubatuba is covered by trees (56%) and grassland (31%) within 3 km, trees (48%) and grassland (33%) within 16 km, and water (31%), trees (29%) and grassland (26%) within 80 km.

3 km
120 m
16 km
209 m
80 km
1,046 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
May weather nearby: Richards Bay 43 km · Empangeni 48 km · eSikhaleni 58 km · Ulundi 76 km · Eshowe 87 km · Mandeni 111 km · KwaDukuza 134 km · Ncotshane 134 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 Mtubatuba (-28.4179°, 32.1848°, elevation 66 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).