Mpika weather in May

In May, Mpika sees average daytime highs of 23°C and overnight lows near 13°C, with 4 mm of rain across 1.2 wet days and about 11.5 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 23°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 36 min at the start of May to 11 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Mpika's 5th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Mpika's year-round climate.

Daytime high
23°
10th warmest
Overnight low
13°
4th coldest
Rainfall
4 mm
1.2 wet days
Daylight
11 h 30 min
6:07 AM – 5:34 PM
Cloud cover
34%
5th clearest
Wind
12 km/h
6th windiest
Solar energy
5.48 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.7
out of 10

Mpika is human settlement.

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 23°C through the month.

A typical May day in Mpika reaches about 23°C in the afternoon and slips back to 13°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 26°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs on par with April and about 1°C warmer than June.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12314
22314
32314
42314
52314
62314
72314
82314
92314
102313
112313
122313
132313
142313
152313
162313
172313
182313
192313
202313
212313
222313
232313
242313
252313
262312
272312
282312
292312
302312
312312

Mpika 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
Jan24° / 17°2942912.63.7
Feb24° / 17°24425.412.43.9
Mar24° / 17°1822512.14.5
Apr23° / 15°4811.311.76.7
May23° / 13°41.211.58.7
Jun22° / 11°10.211.38.8
Jul22° / 10°10.311.48.8
Aug24° / 12°10.211.69.2
Sep27° / 15°20.511.98.5
Oct29° / 17°153.112.36.7
Nov28° / 18°10112.112.55.6
Dec25° / 17°27725.812.74.2

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 (%)
17723
27921
37921
47921
57921
67921
78020
88119
98119
108119
118020
128020
138020
148020
158020
168020
178020
188020
198020
208020
218020
228119
238119
248218
258218
268218
278416
288416
298515
308614
318713

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Mpika gets around 4 mm of rain over 1.2 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 4% and peaks near 10% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
110
210
39
48
58
67
76
86
95
104
114
124
134
143
153
163
173
183
193
203
213
222
232
242
252
262
272
282
292
302
312

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 70% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
1374517
2404416
3434314
4474112
5504011
653389
755378
858357
960346
1063325
1165314
1267303
1370282
1471272
1573261
1674251
1775241
1876231
1978220
2079210
2179210
2280200
2381190
2482180
2582180
2683170
2784160
2885150
2987130
3088120
3189110

Wind in May

Winds average 12 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 12 km/h on the calmest days to 13 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
113light breeze
213light breeze
313light breeze
413light breeze
513light breeze
613light breeze
713light breeze
813light breeze
913light breeze
1013light breeze
1113light breeze
1213light breeze
1313light breeze
1412light breeze
1512light breeze
1612light breeze
1712light breeze
1812light breeze
1912light breeze
2012light breeze
2112light breeze
2212light breeze
2312light breeze
2412light breeze
2512light breeze
2612light breeze
2712light breeze
2812light breeze
2912light breeze
3012light breeze
3112light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 36 min at the start of May to 11 h 24 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 6:04 AM to 6:11 AM, and sunset from 5:39 PM to 5:32 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.66:045:39
211.66:045:39
311.66:045:38
411.66:045:38
511.56:045:37
611.56:055:37
711.56:055:37
811.56:055:36
911.56:055:36
1011.56:055:36
1111.56:065:35
1211.56:065:35
1311.56:065:35
1411.56:065:35
1511.56:065:34
1611.56:075:34
1711.46:075:34
1811.46:075:34
1911.46:075:34
2011.46:085:33
2111.46:085:33
2211.46:085:33
2311.46:085:33
2411.46:095:33
2511.46:095:33
2611.46:095:33
2711.46:105:33
2811.46:105:33
2911.46:105:32
3011.46:105:32
3111.46:115:32

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.48 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.85 kWh/m² to a high of 7.16 kWh/m² in October across the year — May's 5.48 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.5Bright
25.5Bright
35.5Bright
45.5Bright
55.5Bright
65.5Bright
75.5Bright
85.5Bright
95.6Bright
105.6Bright
115.5Bright
125.5Bright
135.5Bright
145.5Bright
155.5Bright
165.5Bright
175.5Bright
185.5Bright
195.5Bright
205.5Bright
215.5Bright
225.5Bright
235.4Bright
245.4Bright
255.4Bright
265.4Bright
275.4Bright
285.4Bright
295.4Bright
305.4Bright
315.4Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Mpika

In seasonPeak

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

Mpika'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 Mpika?

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

8.7
Sightseeing
4th-best month of the year
6.8
Beach & pool
4th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Mpika in May

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

In May, Mpika sees daytime highs around 23°C and nights near 13°C. Worth packing: light clothes and sun protection.

light clothessun protection

UV index in Mpika 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 Mpika peaks around February 19 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 17 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 highExtremeFeb 19UV 16Jun 17UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan15Extreme
Feb16Extreme
Mar16Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May10Extreme
Jun9Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug11Extreme
Sep11Extreme
Oct13Extreme
Nov13Extreme
Dec13Extreme

Air quality in Mpika 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 Mpika is worst in September — around 55 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 8.8× the cleanest month (December, 6 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModeratePoorModerateGoodSep 1652 µg/m³Dec 197 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb9Good
Mar8Good
Apr7Good
May7Good
Jun10Good
Jul18Moderate
Aug34Moderate
Sep55Poor
Oct36Poor
Nov11Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Mpika?

Mpika sits at 11.8°S, 31.5°E, 1,428 m above sea level, in Zambia. The nearest listed city is Chinsali, 159 km away.

ChinsaliKasamaLundaziSerenjeSamfyaIsokaMzimbaChipata

Topography around Mpika

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Mpika has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 340 m around an average of 1,448 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 458 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,287 m.

The land around Mpika is covered by cropland (44%), shrubs (21%) and artificial surfaces (21%) within 3 km, shrubs (36%), trees (24%) and cropland (22%) within 16 km, and trees (61%) and shrubs (23%) within 80 km.

3 km
340 m
16 km
458 m
80 km
1,287 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswetland
May weather nearby: Chinsali 159 km · Kasama 183 km · Lundazi 194 km · Serenje 204 km · Samfya 213 km · Isoka 226 km · Mzimba 234 km · Chipata 238 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 Mpika (-11.8343°, 31.4529°, elevation 1,428 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).