Dar es Salaam weather in May

In May, Dar es Salaam sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 152 mm of rain across 20.4 wet days and about 11.7 hours of daylight. It is the 8th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 35% of the time in May, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 48 min at the start of May to 11 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Dar es Salaam's 8th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Dar es Salaam's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
8th warmest
Overnight low
24°
6th coldest
Rainfall
152 mm
20.4 wet days
Daylight
11 h 42 min
6:28 AM – 6:10 PM
Cloud cover
55%
8th clearest
Wind
15 km/h
4th windiest
Solar energy
4.67 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.0
out of 10

Dar es Salaam is largest city in Tanzania and capital of Dar es Salaam Region.

Density
3,865/km²
people per km²
Founded
1862

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 28°C through the month.

A typical May day in Dar es Salaam reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 24°C overnight — a 4°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 26°C and 29°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 1°C cooler than April and on par with June.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12824
22824
32824
42824
52824
62824
72824
82824
92824
102824
112824
122824
132824
142824
152824
162824
172824
182824
192824
202824
212824
222824
232824
242824
252824
262824
272824
282824
292824
302824
312823

How May really feels in Dar es Salaam

Once humidity and wind are folded in, May averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

May sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Dar es Salaam weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 8th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan30° / 26°531012.45.0
Feb30° / 26°528.412.24.8
Mar30° / 25°15621.7123.8
Apr29° / 25°22926.311.93.5
May28° / 24°15220.411.75.0
Jun27° / 23°3911.411.66.4
Jul27° / 22°258.211.66.9
Aug27° / 22°258.611.87.0
Sep28° / 22°237.4127.1
Oct28° / 23°571112.25.9
Nov29° / 24°9217.512.34.7
Dec30° / 25°941812.44.4

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 35% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 27% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 38%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14654
24753
34951
44951
55050
65149
75347
85446
95644
105743
115842
125941
136139
146139
156238
166337
176436
186436
196535
206634
216733
226832
236931
247030
257030
267129
277228
287228
297327
307327
317327

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Dar es Salaam gets around 152 mm of rain over 20.4 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 65% and peaks near 80% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
180
279
379
478
577
676
775
874
972
1071
1170
1269
1368
1467
1566
1666
1765
1864
1963
2062
2161
2260
2358
2458
2557
2656
2755
2853
2952
3050
3149

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, May lands in the oppressive band about 89% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
103889
203898
304897
404897
504906
605905
705905
805914
905923
1006913
1106913
1206922
1306922
1407912
1507921
1607921
1707921
1807921
1908911
2008920
2109910
22010900
23011890
24012880
25013870
26014860
27115840
28116830
29118810
30119800
31121780

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
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 11 h 48 min at the start of May to 11 h 36 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 6:27 AM to 6:31 AM, and sunset from 6:13 PM to 6:09 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.86:276:13
211.86:276:13
311.86:276:12
411.76:276:12
511.76:276:12
611.76:276:12
711.76:286:11
811.76:286:11
911.76:286:11
1011.76:286:11
1111.76:286:11
1211.76:286:10
1311.76:286:10
1411.76:286:10
1511.76:286:10
1611.76:286:10
1711.76:296:10
1811.76:296:10
1911.76:296:10
2011.76:296:09
2111.76:296:09
2211.76:296:09
2311.76:306:09
2411.76:306:09
2511.76:306:09
2611.76:306:09
2711.66:306:09
2811.66:316:09
2911.66:316:09
3011.66:316:09
3111.66:316:09

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 4.67 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.67 kWh/m² to a high of 6.41 kWh/m² in October across the year — May's 4.67 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

024151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.7Bright
24.7Bright
34.7Bright
44.7Bright
54.7Bright
64.7Bright
74.7Bright
84.7Bright
94.6Bright
104.6Bright
114.6Bright
124.6Bright
134.6Bright
144.7Bright
154.7Bright
164.7Bright
174.7Bright
184.7Bright
194.7Bright
204.7Bright
214.7Bright
224.7Bright
234.7Bright
244.7Bright
254.7Bright
264.7Bright
274.8Bright
284.8Bright
294.8Bright
304.8Bright
314.8Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Dar es Salaam

In seasonPeak

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

Dar es Salaam sits in the South Indian Ocean cyclone belt; the season peaks January–March.

Dar es Salaam's rainy season runs March–May, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is May a good time to visit Dar es Salaam?

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

5.0
Sightseeing
6th-best month of the year
5.4
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

May is a reasonable time to visit Dar es Salaam for sightseeing.

What to pack for Dar es Salaam in May

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

In May, Dar es Salaam sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 24°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 20 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Dar es Salaam in May

The nearest coast averages about 28°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 March at about 29°C and coldest in August near 25°C.

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

24°26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan28Tropical
Feb29Tropical
Mar29Tropical
Apr29Tropical
May28Warm
Jun27Warm
Jul26Warm
Aug25Warm
Sep26Warm
Oct27Warm
Nov28Warm
Dec29Tropical

UV index in Dar es Salaam in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Dar es Salaam peaks around March 15 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 17 at about 10 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highExtremeMar 15UV 14Jun 17UV 10
UV index (midday)Level
Jan13Extreme
Feb14Extreme
Mar15Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May10Extreme
Jun9Very high
Jul10Extreme
Aug10Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct13Extreme
Nov12Extreme
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Dar es Salaam 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 Dar es Salaam is worst in July — around 22 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), and holds fairly steady the rest of the year.

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateJul 1522 µg/m³Nov 1515 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan21Moderate
Feb20Moderate
Mar18Moderate
Apr16Moderate
May18Moderate
Jun21Moderate
Jul22Moderate
Aug20Moderate
Sep19Moderate
Oct17Moderate
Nov15Moderate
Dec17Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Dar es Salaam?

Dar es Salaam sits at 6.8°S, 39.3°E, 24 m above sea level, in Tanzania. The nearest listed city is Magomeni, 3.0 km away.

Topography around Dar es Salaam

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Dar es Salaam has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 43 m around an average of 16 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 162 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 449 m.

The land around Dar es Salaam is covered by artificial surfaces (77%) within 3 km, artificial surfaces (37%) and water (30%) within 16 km, and water (47%), grassland (26%) and trees (20%) within 80 km.

3 km
43 m
16 km
162 m
80 km
449 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwatermangroves
May weather nearby: Magomeni 3.0 km · Mwandege 17 km · Vikindu 21 km · Mkuranga 33 km · Mapinga 33 km · Kibaha 39 km · Sokoni 53 km · Bagamoyo 59 km

Tanzania travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Power plugs
Type D / G
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 29% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$1,319
2025
Happiness
3.9 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
31%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
3.7
per 100k, 2020
Road deaths
31.1
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Lower middle
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 479
Religion
Christian 63%Muslim 34%folk religion 1%

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 Dar es Salaam (-6.8235°, 39.2695°, elevation 24 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).