Kapiri Mposhi weather in May

In May, Kapiri Mposhi sees average daytime highs of 25°C and overnight lows near 13°C, with 3 mm of rain across 0.8 wet days and about 11.4 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-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 60% of the time in May, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 30 min at the start of May to 11 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Kapiri Mposhi's 5th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Kapiri Mposhi's year-round climate.

Daytime high
25°
10th warmest
Overnight low
13°
4th coldest
Rainfall
3 mm
0.8 wet days
Daylight
11 h 24 min
6:21 AM – 5:42 PM
Cloud cover
34%
5th clearest
Wind
11 km/h
7th windiest
Solar energy
5.25 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.8
out of 10

Kapiri Mposhi is in Kapiri Mposhi District.

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 Kapiri Mposhi reaches about 25°C in the afternoon and slips back to 13°C overnight — a 12°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 1°C cooler than April and about 2°C warmer than June.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12614
22614
32614
42614
52514
62514
72514
82513
92513
102513
112513
122513
132513
142513
152513
162513
172513
182513
192513
202513
212513
222513
232513
242512
252512
262512
272512
282412
292412
302412
312412

Kapiri Mposhi weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 10th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 18°25326.412.73.9
Feb26° / 18°19822.412.54.2
Mar27° / 18°14119.412.15.1
Apr26° / 16°255.611.77.4
May25° / 13°30.811.48.8
Jun23° / 11°0011.29.2
Jul23° / 10°10.111.39.1
Aug26° / 13°00.111.59.0
Sep29° / 16°10.411.97.1
Oct31° / 19°132.712.35.5
Nov30° / 19°9313.112.64.6
Dec27° / 19°22624.512.84.2

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 60% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 21% 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 (%)
17624
27624
37624
47723
57723
67723
77822
87822
97822
107921
117921
128020
138020
148119
158218
168218
178218
188317
198317
208416
218416
228416
238416
248317
258317
268317
278317
288317
298218
308218
318218

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Kapiri Mposhi gets around 3 mm of rain over 0.8 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 3% and peaks near 5% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
15
24
34
44
54
64
73
83
93
103
113
123
133
143
152
162
172
182
192
202
212
222
232
242
252
262
271
281
291
301
311

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 73% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
1483912
2513811
3533710
455369
557358
660337
762326
864306
967285
1068275
1171254
1272244
1373234
1475223
1576213
1678202
1779192
1880182
1980182
2082171
2182171
2282171
2383161
2483161
2583161
2683161
2784151
2886140
2986140
3087130
3188120

Wind in May

Winds average 11 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 11 km/h on the calmest days to 12 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
112calm
212calm
312calm
412calm
512calm
611calm
711calm
811calm
911calm
1011calm
1111calm
1211calm
1311calm
1411calm
1511calm
1611calm
1711calm
1811calm
1911calm
2011calm
2111calm
2211calm
2311calm
2411calm
2511calm
2611calm
2711calm
2811calm
2911calm
3011calm
3111calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 30 min at the start of May to 11 h 12 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 18 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 6:17 AM to 6:25 AM, and sunset from 5:48 PM to 5:40 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.56:175:48
211.56:175:47
311.56:185:47
411.56:185:46
511.56:185:46
611.56:185:46
711.46:195:45
811.46:195:45
911.46:195:44
1011.46:195:44
1111.46:205:44
1211.46:205:43
1311.46:205:43
1411.46:205:43
1511.46:215:42
1611.46:215:42
1711.36:215:42
1811.36:215:42
1911.36:225:42
2011.36:225:41
2111.36:225:41
2211.36:235:41
2311.36:235:41
2411.36:235:41
2511.36:245:40
2611.36:245:40
2711.36:245:40
2811.36:255:40
2911.36:255:40
3011.26:255:40
3111.26:255:40

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.25 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.97 kWh/m² to a high of 7.09 kWh/m² in October across the year — May's 5.25 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.4Bright
25.4Bright
35.4Bright
45.4Bright
55.4Bright
65.4Bright
75.4Bright
85.4Bright
95.4Bright
105.3Bright
115.3Bright
125.3Bright
135.3Bright
145.3Bright
155.3Bright
165.3Bright
175.2Bright
185.2Bright
195.2Bright
205.2Bright
215.2Bright
225.1Bright
235.1Bright
245.1Bright
255.1Bright
265.1Bright
275.1Bright
285.1Bright
295.1Bright
305.0Bright
315.0Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Kapiri Mposhi

In seasonPeak

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

Kapiri Mposhi's monsoon runs December–March, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is May a good time to visit Kapiri Mposhi?

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

8.8
Sightseeing
4th-best month of the year
7.9
Beach & pool
4th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Kapiri Mposhi in May

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

In May, Kapiri Mposhi sees daytime highs around 25°C and nights near 13°C. Worth packing: light clothes and sun protection.

light clothessun protection

UV index in Kapiri Mposhi 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 Kapiri Mposhi peaks around January 21 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 22 at about 9 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highExtremeJan 21UV 16Jun 22UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan16Extreme
Feb15Extreme
Mar15Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May10Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug10Extreme
Sep11Extreme
Oct13Extreme
Nov14Extreme
Dec13Extreme

Air quality in Kapiri Mposhi 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 Kapiri Mposhi is worst in August — around 42 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 4.7× the cleanest month (April, 9 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModeratePoorModerateAug 1841 µg/m³Apr 199 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan13Moderate
Feb14Moderate
Mar11Good
Apr9Good
May10Good
Jun15Moderate
Jul29Moderate
Aug42Poor
Sep33Moderate
Oct21Moderate
Nov14Moderate
Dec11Good
Location & terrain

Where is Kapiri Mposhi?

Kapiri Mposhi sits at 14.0°S, 28.7°E, 1,265 m above sea level, in Zambia. The nearest listed city is Kabwe, 58 km away.

MpongweMkushiLuanshyaNdolaMapaloKitweKalulushi

Topography around Kapiri Mposhi

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Kapiri Mposhi has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 86 m around an average of 1,263 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 246 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 861 m.

The land around Kapiri Mposhi is covered by artificial surfaces (34%), cropland (27%) and grassland (21%) within 3 km, cropland (30%), shrubs (26%) and grassland (24%) within 16 km, and trees (36%), grassland (26%) and cropland (25%) within 80 km.

3 km
86 m
16 km
246 m
80 km
861 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaces
May weather nearby: Kabwe 58 km · Mpongwe 76 km · Mkushi 87 km · Luanshya 97 km · Ndola 113 km · Mapalo 115 km · Kitwe 139 km · Kalulushi 140 km

Zambia travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type C / D / G
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 30% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$1,318
2025
Happiness
4.1 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
5.2
per 100k, 2015
Road deaths
20.5
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Lower middle
World Bank
English
High
EF EPI 573
Religion
Protestant 75%Roman Catholic 20%other 3%none 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 Kapiri Mposhi (-13.9715°, 28.6699°, elevation 1,265 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. 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).