Cockburn Town weather in May

In May, Cockburn Town sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 54 mm of rain across 9.9 wet days and about 13 hours of daylight. It is the 7th-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 47% of the time in May, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 48 min at the start of May to 13 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Cockburn Town's 9th-clearest and 10th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Cockburn Town's year-round climate.

Daytime high
26°
7th warmest
Overnight low
25°
6th coldest
Rainfall
54 mm
9.9 wet days
Daylight
13 hours
5:10 AM – 6:11 PM
Cloud cover
49%
9th clearest
Wind
25 km/h
10th windiest
Solar energy
6.69 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.8
out of 10

Cockburn Town is capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Density
214/km²
people per km²
Founded
1681

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 26°C through the month.

A typical May day in Cockburn Town reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 1°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 26°C and 27°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 1°C warmer than April and about 1°C cooler than June.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12625
22625
32625
42625
52625
62625
72625
82625
92625
102625
112625
122625
132625
142625
152625
162625
172625
182625
192725
202725
212725
222725
232726
242726
252726
262726
272726
282726
292726
302726
312726

How May really feels in Cockburn Town

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.

Cockburn Town weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 7th-warmest and 5th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan25° / 24°348.310.87.6
Feb25° / 24°205.411.38.1
Mar25° / 24°326.711.88.0
Apr25° / 24°336.412.57.8
May26° / 25°549.9136.8
Jun28° / 26°347.513.36.8
Jul28° / 27°488.213.26.7
Aug28° / 27°5810.312.76.0
Sep28° / 27°10614.412.15.3
Oct28° / 26°931611.55.6
Nov27° / 25°8114.3116.2
Dec26° / 25°429.910.77.1

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 47% 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 37%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17822
27723
37723
47723
57723
67624
77624
87525
97327
107228
117129
126931
136832
146733
156436
166238
176139
185842
195743
205545
215446
225248
235248
245149
255149
265050
275050
285050
294951
304951
314951

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Cockburn Town gets around 54 mm of rain over 9.9 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 31% and peaks near 36% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
125
225
325
425
525
625
726
827
927
1028
1129
1230
1331
1431
1532
1633
1734
1834
1935
2035
2135
2236
2336
2436
2536
2636
2736
2836
2935
3035
3134

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 73% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 97% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
12523673
22523673
32523673
42523673
51523683
61523683
71523674
81422694
91422694
101421695
110421705
120320716
130319717
140317737
150216748
160215749
1702137510
1802127511
1902107711
200297712
210187813
220177814
230167914
240167815
250157816
260157717
270147619
280147520
290037522
300037423
310027325

Wind in May

Winds average 25 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 25 km/h on the calmest days to 25 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0102030151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
125breezy
225breezy
325breezy
425breezy
525breezy
625breezy
725breezy
825breezy
925breezy
1025breezy
1125breezy
1225breezy
1325breezy
1425breezy
1525breezy
1625breezy
1725breezy
1825breezy
1925breezy
2025breezy
2125breezy
2225breezy
2325breezy
2425breezy
2525breezy
2625breezy
2725breezy
2825breezy
2925breezy
3025breezy
3125breezy

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 48 min at the start of May to 13 h 12 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 24 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:18 AM to 5:06 AM, and sunset from 6:05 PM to 6:18 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.85:186:05
212.85:186:06
312.85:176:06
412.85:166:06
512.85:166:07
612.95:156:07
712.95:156:08
812.95:146:08
912.95:146:08
1012.95:136:09
1112.95:136:09
1213.05:126:10
1313.05:126:10
1413.05:116:11
1513.05:116:11
1613.05:106:11
1713.05:106:12
1813.05:096:12
1913.15:096:13
2013.15:096:13
2113.15:086:14
2213.15:086:14
2313.15:086:15
2413.15:076:15
2513.15:076:15
2613.15:076:16
2713.25:076:16
2813.25:066:17
2913.25:066:17
3013.25:066:18
3113.25:066:18

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 6.69 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.06 kWh/m² to a high of 6.93 kWh/m² in June across the year — May's 6.69 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.8Intense
26.8Intense
36.8Intense
46.8Intense
56.8Intense
66.8Intense
76.8Intense
86.8Intense
96.8Intense
106.8Intense
116.8Intense
126.7Intense
136.7Intense
146.7Intense
156.7Intense
166.7Intense
176.6Intense
186.6Intense
196.6Intense
206.6Intense
216.6Intense
226.6Intense
236.6Intense
246.6Intense
256.6Intense
266.6Intense
276.6Intense
286.6Intense
296.6Intense
306.7Intense
316.7Intense
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Cockburn Town

In seasonPeak

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

Cockburn Town sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Cockburn Town's rainy season runs August–November, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is May a good time to visit Cockburn Town?

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

6.8
Sightseeing
6th-best month of the year
6.7
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

May is a reasonable time to visit Cockburn Town for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Cockburn Town in May

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

In May, Cockburn Town sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 25°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes, rain gear and a windbreaker. About 10 days see rain.

sun protectionlight clothesrain geara windbreaker

Sea temperature near Cockburn Town in May

The nearest coast averages about 27°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 September at about 29°C and coldest in February near 26°C.

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

24°26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan26Warm
Feb26Warm
Mar26Warm
Apr26Warm
May27Warm
Jun28Warm
Jul28Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov28Warm
Dec27Warm

UV index in Cockburn Town in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Cockburn Town peaks around August 16 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 15 at about 6 (high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highHighAug 16UV 12Dec 15UV 6
UV index (midday)Level
Jan7Very high
Feb9Very high
Mar11Extreme
Apr11Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep11Extreme
Oct9Very high
Nov7High
Dec6High

Air quality in Cockburn Town 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 Cockburn Town is worst in July — around 24 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.1× the cleanest month (January, 6 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1523 µg/m³Jan 16 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb7Good
Mar7Good
Apr8Good
May13Moderate
Jun20Moderate
Jul24Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct12Good
Nov7Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Cockburn Town?

Cockburn Town sits at 21.5°N, 71.1°W, 7 m above sea level, in Turks and Caicos Islands. The nearest listed city is Providenciales, 120 km away.

Providenciales

Topography around Cockburn Town

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Cockburn Town has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 26 m around an average of 2 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 26 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 42 m.

The land around Cockburn Town is covered by water (67%) within 3 km, water (98%) within 16 km, and water (97%) within 80 km.

3 km
26 m
16 km
26 m
80 km
42 m
treesgrasslandartificial surfacesbare terrainwatermangroves
May weather nearby: Providenciales 120 km · San Fernando de Monte Cristi 187 km · Puerto Plata 191 km · Monte Llano 200 km · Sosua 201 km · Río Grande 203 km · Cabarete 205 km · Esperanza 209 km

Turks and Caicos Islands travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Prices
≈ 99% of US
price level, 2024
GDP per capita
$37,507
2024
Safe drinking water
47%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
76.3
per 100k, 2022
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 73%other 14%Roman Catholic 11%Jehovah's Witness 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 Cockburn Town (21.4612°, -71.1419°, elevation 7 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).