Johannesburg · SpringMonth summary
Johannesburg weather in May
✅ Good
🌡️ Temperature min / max
7°C – 20°C
🌧 Rainy days
7% of days
☀️ Sunshine
10.1h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Spring
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
7.8/10
📅 📅 Best month
September (8.8/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Johannesburg in May?
✅ Good
✅ Yes if: you want to explore the city on foot without suffering from heat.
❌ No if: you're looking for a beach destination — water and air are still cool.
Our take: Johannesburg in May: 20°C and 10.1h of sunshine. Decent, but not the peak.
By trip type
Johannesburg in May by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ✅ Good
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ✅ Good
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : — No sea access
- 💰 💰 Budget : 🌿 Shoulder
Local context
What to expect in May
🎯 Shoulder season — good value with reasonable accommodation prices Spring marks the start of the good season in Johannesburg. Temperatures rise (20°C) and tourists have not yet arrived en masse. Rain is virtually absent (7% of days) — ideal for planning without a backup. A good balance between weather and crowds, even if September (8.8/10) remains theoretically better.
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All months for Johannesburg
Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °C | Max °C | Rain % | Precip mm | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌤️ January | 15°C | 25°C | 45% | 3.9 | 12.9h | 7.8/10 |
| 🌤️ February | 15°C | 25°C | 50% | 4.2 | 12.2h | 7.6/10 |
| 🌤️ March | 13°C | 24°C | 32% | 2.0 | 11.7h | 8.0/10 |
| 🌤️ April | 11°C | 21°C | 27% | 2.1 | 10.9h | 7.6/10 |
| 🌤️ May | 7°C | 20°C | 7% | 0.5 | 10.1h | 7.8/10 |
| 🌤️ June | 5°C | 18°C | 5% | 0.3 | 10.1h | 7.5/10 |
| ⛅ July | 4°C | 17°C | 2% | 0.1 | 10.4h | 7.4/10 |
| 🌤️ August | 7°C | 21°C | 3% | 0.2 | 10.7h | 8.2/10 |
| ☀️ September | 10°C | 25°C | 10% | 0.4 | 11.7h | 8.8/10 |
| ☀️ October | 12°C | 26°C | 24% | 1.4 | 12.0h | 8.6/10 |
| 🌤️ November | 13°C | 26°C | 43% | 2.8 | 12.6h | 8.0/10 |
| 🌤️ December | 15°C | 25°C | 55% | 3.8 | 12.7h | 7.6/10 |
Ideal
Fair
Challenging climate
◀ Current month · Source Open-Meteo · 10 years
📊 Data source
Data based on 10 years of ERA5 records via Open-Meteo, with ECMWF seasonal adjustment. In May, Johannesburg averages 20°C, 7% rainy days and 10.1h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 7.8/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
May vs September (best month)
The best month is September (score 8.8/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +5°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : +3%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +1.6h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Johannesburg in May
Is May a good time to visit Johannesburg?
May is an excellent time to visit Johannesburg (score 7.8/10). With 20°C, 10.1h of sunshine and 7% rain, conditions are very favourable.
What to do in Johannesburg in May?
With 20°C max and 10.1h of sunshine, focus on cultural sites, museums and local gastronomy.
Accommodation
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