Rondebosch weather in May

In May, Rondebosch sees average daytime highs of 18°C and overnight lows near 14°C, with 67 mm of rain across 8.4 wet days and about 10.3 hours of daylight. It is the 8th-warmest and 4th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 18°C in the first days to 17°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 42% 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 Rondebosch's 12th-clearest and 12th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Rondebosch's year-round climate.

Daytime high
18°
8th warmest
Overnight low
14°
5th coldest
Rainfall
67 mm
8.4 wet days
Daylight
10 h 12 min
7:35 AM – 5:50 PM
Cloud cover
49%
12th clearest
Wind
16 km/h
12th windiest
Solar energy
2.98 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.3
out of 10

Rondebosch is suburb of Cape Town, South Africa.

Density
2,361/km²
people per km²

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 18°C in the first days to 17°C by the end.

A typical May day in Rondebosch reaches about 18°C in the afternoon and slips back to 14°C overnight — a 4°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 16°C and 21°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 2°C cooler than April and about 2°C warmer than June.

10°15°20°25°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
11914
21914
31914
41814
51814
61814
71814
81814
91814
101814
111814
121814
131814
141814
151814
161814
171814
181814
191813
201813
211813
221813
231713
241713
251713
261713
271713
281713
291713
301713
311713

Rondebosch weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 8th-warmest and 4th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan22° / 18°152.8148.5
Feb22° / 18°14313.38.5
Mar21° / 17°163.312.38.1
Apr20° / 15°435.211.27.2
May18° / 14°678.410.36.3
Jun16° / 12°10811.19.85.2
Jul16° / 11°989.9105.1
Aug16° / 11°8710.310.75.1
Sep17° / 12°518.211.85.7
Oct18° / 14°335.812.96.8
Nov20° / 15°305.113.87.3
Dec21° / 17°173.614.28.1

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 42% of the time in May, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 19% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 39%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16436
26436
36436
46436
56436
66436
76436
86337
96337
106436
116337
126337
136337
146337
156238
166238
176139
186040
196040
206040
215941
225941
235842
245842
255842
265842
275842
285743
295842
305842
315941

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Rondebosch gets around 67 mm of rain over 8.4 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 27% and peaks near 37% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
122
222
322
422
522
622
722
822
922
1022
1122
1222
1322
1422
1523
1623
1724
1825
1926
2027
2128
2229
2331
2432
2533
2634
2735
2836
2936
3037
3137

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 56% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
145523
245532
345532
445532
546522
646522
746522
847521
947521
1048511
1148511
1249501
1349501
1450491
1550491
1651481
1753470
1855450
1956440
2058420
2160400
2261390
2363370
2465350
2567330
2669310
2771290
2873270
2975250
3077230
3178220

Wind in May

Winds average 16 km/h in May, the calmest month.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 16 km/h on the calmest days to 16 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
116light breeze
216light breeze
316light breeze
416light breeze
516light breeze
616light breeze
716light breeze
816light breeze
916light breeze
1016light breeze
1116light breeze
1216light breeze
1316light breeze
1416light breeze
1516light breeze
1616light breeze
1716light breeze
1816light breeze
1916light breeze
2016light breeze
2116light breeze
2216light breeze
2316light breeze
2416light breeze
2516light breeze
2616light breeze
2716light breeze
2816light breeze
2916light breeze
3016light breeze
3116light 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 7:23 AM to 7:46 AM, and sunset from 6:03 PM to 5:41 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.77:236:03
210.67:246:02
310.67:256:01
410.67:266:00
510.57:275:59
610.57:275:58
710.57:285:57
810.57:295:56
910.47:305:55
1010.47:315:54
1110.47:315:54
1210.37:325:53
1310.37:335:52
1410.37:345:51
1510.37:345:50
1610.27:355:50
1710.27:365:49
1810.27:375:48
1910.27:375:47
2010.17:385:47
2110.17:395:46
2210.17:405:46
2310.17:405:45
2410.17:415:44
2510.07:425:44
2610.07:425:43
2710.07:435:43
2810.07:445:42
2910.07:445:42
309.97:455:42
319.97:465:41

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 2.98 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.48 kWh/m² to a high of 8.24 kWh/m² in December across the year — May's 2.98 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.5Moderate
23.5Moderate
33.4Moderate
43.4Moderate
53.4Moderate
63.3Moderate
73.3Moderate
83.3Moderate
93.2Moderate
103.2Moderate
113.2Moderate
123.1Moderate
133.1Moderate
143.1Moderate
153.0Moderate
163.0Moderate
173.0Moderate
182.9Moderate
192.9Moderate
202.9Moderate
212.8Moderate
222.8Moderate
232.8Moderate
242.7Moderate
252.7Moderate
262.7Moderate
272.6Moderate
282.6Moderate
292.6Moderate
302.6Moderate
312.6Moderate
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Rondebosch

In seasonPeak

In May, Rondebosch sits inside its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Rondebosch's rainy season runs May–September, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is May a good time to visit Rondebosch?

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

6.3
Sightseeing
8th-best month of the year
2.0
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

May is a reasonable time to visit Rondebosch for sightseeing.

What to pack for Rondebosch in May

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

In May, Rondebosch sees daytime highs around 18°C and nights near 14°C. Worth packing: rain gear. About 8 days see rain.

rain gear

Sea temperature near Rondebosch in May

The nearest coast averages about 15°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 14 km away) is warmest in January at about 18°C and coldest in August near 15°C.

The water stays below 20°C all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.

14°16°18°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcool
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan18Cool
Feb18Cool
Mar17Cool
Apr16Cool
May15Cool
Jun15Cool
Jul15Bracing
Aug15Bracing
Sep15Bracing
Oct15Cool
Nov16Cool
Dec17Cool

UV index in Rondebosch in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 3 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Rondebosch peaks around January 13 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 20 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 11 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highModerateVery highExtremeJan 13UV 13Jun 20UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan13Extreme
Feb10Very high
Mar9Very high
Apr6High
May3Moderate
Jun3Moderate
Jul3Moderate
Aug4Moderate
Sep6High
Oct10Very high
Nov11Extreme
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Rondebosch 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 Rondebosch is worst in May — around 52 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 3.4× the cleanest month (December, 15 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorModerateMay 2152 µg/m³Dec 1516 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan20Moderate
Feb19Moderate
Mar28Moderate
Apr41Poor
May52Poor
Jun50Poor
Jul47Poor
Aug41Poor
Sep33Moderate
Oct29Moderate
Nov18Moderate
Dec15Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Rondebosch?

Rondebosch sits at 34.0°S, 18.5°E, 28 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Athlone, 2.0 km away.

Topography around Rondebosch

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Rondebosch has large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 712 m around an average of 57 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,078 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,968 m.

The land around Rondebosch is covered by artificial surfaces (49%) and trees (32%) within 3 km, artificial surfaces (37%) and water (25%) within 16 km, and water (45%) and grassland (20%) within 80 km.

3 km
712 m
16 km
1,078 m
80 km
1,968 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
May weather nearby: Athlone 2.0 km · Lansdowne 3.0 km · Cape Town 6.0 km · Retreat 10 km · Muizenberg 15 km · Kuils River 21 km · Durbanville 22 km · Kraaifontein 26 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 Rondebosch (-33.9633°, 18.4764°, elevation 28 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).