İskenderun weather in May

In May, İskenderun sees average daytime highs of 25°C and overnight lows near 16°C, with 38 mm of rain across 6.2 wet days and about 13.9 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 23°C in the first days to 27°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 66% of the time in May, and the air most often feels comfortable.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 30 min at the start of May to 14 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is İskenderun's 6th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see İskenderun's year-round climate.

Daytime high
25°
6th warmest
Overnight low
16°
7th coldest
Rainfall
38 mm
6.2 wet days
Daylight
13 h 54 min
4:33 AM – 6:30 PM
Cloud cover
32%
6th clearest
Wind
7 km/h
5th windiest
Solar energy
6.84 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.9
out of 10

İskenderun is district and city in Hatay, Turkey.

Density
1,019/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 climb over the month, from about 23°C in the first days to 27°C by the end.

A typical May day in İskenderun reaches about 25°C in the afternoon and slips back to 16°C overnight — a 10°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 21°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 5°C warmer than April and about 4°C cooler than June.

10°15°20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12314
22314
32314
42414
52414
62415
72415
82415
92415
102515
112515
122515
132515
142516
152516
162616
172616
182616
192616
202616
212616
222617
232717
242717
252717
262717
272717
282717
292717
302718
312718

How May really feels in İskenderun

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.

İskenderun weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 6th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan12° / 10611.80.59.83.1
Feb13° / 10610.80.510.63.8
Mar17° / 9511.1011.75.4
Apr21° / 12°639.4012.96.7
May25° / 16°386.2013.97.9
Jun29° / 20°102.7014.56.9
Jul32° / 23°30.8014.25.5
Aug33° / 23°20.6013.45.1
Sep31° / 21°223.9012.26.0
Oct26° / 17°506.4011.17.6
Nov19° / 11°6570106.8
Dec14° / 10310.70.19.53.9

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 66% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 16% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 18%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17129
27129
37129
47228
57327
67327
77327
87426
97525
107624
117624
127822
137921
148020
158119
168317
178317
188515
198614
208713
218812
228812
238911
249010
259010
269010
27919
28928
29928
30937
31937

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

İskenderun gets around 38 mm of rain over 6.2 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 19% and peaks near 25% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
125
225
325
425
525
625
725
825
925
1024
1124
1223
1322
1421
1520
1620
1719
1818
1917
2016
2116
2215
2315
2414
2514
2614
2714
2813
2913
3013
3113

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, May lands in the comfortable band about 51% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
1573940
2544240
3514450
4474760
5444970
6405280
7375490
83455110
93256120
102958130
112759140
122559160
132459170
142259190
152060200
161958221
171758241
181657261
191557271
201456291
211355311
221253341
231251361
241149381
251148402
261046422
27944442
28943463
29841473
30840494
31738514

Wind in May

Winds average 7 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 6 km/h on the calmest days to 7 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
16calm
26calm
36calm
46calm
56calm
66calm
76calm
86calm
96calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 30 min at the start of May to 14 h 18 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 48 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 4:48 AM to 4:24 AM, and sunset from 6:17 PM to 6:41 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.54:486:17
213.54:476:18
313.54:466:19
413.64:456:19
513.64:446:20
613.64:436:21
713.74:426:22
813.74:416:23
913.74:406:24
1013.84:396:25
1113.84:386:26
1213.84:376:26
1313.94:366:27
1413.94:356:28
1513.94:346:29
1613.94:336:30
1714.04:326:31
1814.04:326:32
1914.04:316:32
2014.04:306:33
2114.14:296:34
2214.14:296:35
2314.14:286:36
2414.14:286:36
2514.24:276:37
2614.24:266:38
2714.24:266:39
2814.24:256:39
2914.34:256:40
3014.34:246:41
3114.34:246:41

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 6.84 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.16 kWh/m² to a high of 7.46 kWh/m² in June across the year — May's 6.84 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

02468151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.4Intense
26.4Intense
36.4Intense
46.4Intense
56.5Intense
66.5Intense
76.5Intense
86.5Intense
96.6Intense
106.6Intense
116.7Intense
126.7Intense
136.7Intense
146.8Intense
156.8Intense
166.9Intense
176.9Intense
186.9Intense
197.0Intense
207.0Intense
217.1Intense
227.1Intense
237.1Intense
247.1Intense
257.2Intense
267.2Intense
277.2Intense
287.2Intense
297.2Intense
307.3Intense
317.3Intense
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for İskenderun

In seasonPeak

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

İskenderun's rainy season runs October–April, 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 İskenderun?

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

7.9
Sightseeing
1st-best month of the year
7.3
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for İskenderun in May

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

In May, İskenderun sees daytime highs around 25°C and nights near 16°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes. About 6 days see rain.

sun protectionlight clothes

Sea temperature near İskenderun in May

The nearest coast averages about 22°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 August at about 29°C and coldest in February near 17°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from May 1 to Dec 11 — about 7.4 months when the water holds above 20°C.

15°20°25°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan18Cool
Feb17Cool
Mar17Cool
Apr18Cool
May22Refreshing
Jun25Warm
Jul28Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct26Warm
Nov23Refreshing
Dec20Cool

UV index in İskenderun in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 8 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in İskenderun peaks around June 21 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 12 at about 2 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateVery highHighModerateJun 21UV 10Jan 12UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr7High
May8Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep7Very high
Oct5High
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Moderate

Air quality in İskenderun 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 İskenderun is worst in March — around 24 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), and holds fairly steady the rest of the year.

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateMar 2424 µg/m³Jul 1716 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan18Moderate
Feb20Moderate
Mar24Moderate
Apr24Moderate
May23Moderate
Jun19Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug19Moderate
Sep20Moderate
Oct19Moderate
Nov19Moderate
Dec17Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is İskenderun?

İskenderun sits at 36.6°N, 36.2°E, 9 m above sea level, in Turkey. The nearest listed city is Denizciler, 7.0 km away.

Topography around İskenderun

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around İskenderun has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 239 m around an average of 25 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,783 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,181 m.

The land around İskenderun is covered by artificial surfaces (43%) and water (34%) within 3 km, trees (37%) and water (37%) within 16 km, and cropland (31%), trees (25%) and water (23%) within 80 km.

3 km
239 m
16 km
1,783 m
80 km
2,181 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
May weather nearby: Denizciler 7.0 km · Belen 11 km · Kırıkhan 19 km · Serinyol 25 km · Dörtyol 28 km · Arsuz 32 km · Narlıca 39 km · Erzin 41 km

Turkey travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type C / F
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 41% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$18,599
2025
Happiness
5.3 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
3.2
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
6.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 488
Religion
Muslim 100%other 0%

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 İskenderun (36.5872°, 36.1735°, elevation 9 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).