Nairobi · SpringMonth summary
Nairobi weather in May
✅ Good
🌡️ Temperature min / max
15°C – 24°C
🌧 Rainy days
60% of days
☀️ Sunshine
10.8h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Spring
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
7.3/10
📅 📅 Best month
February (8.7/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Nairobi in May?
✅ Good
✅ Yes if: you're willing to accept showers in exchange for lower prices and fewer tourists.
❌ No if: you're planning 100% outdoor activities — rain is frequent.
Our take: Favourable conditions in May (7.3/10). February scores higher but the gap is small.
By trip type
Nairobi in May by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ✅ Good
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ⚠️ Possible
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : — No sea access
- 💰 💰 Budget : ✅ Low season
Local context
What to expect in May
🎯 Open terraces and outdoor markets — best season for al fresco dining Spring marks the start of the good season in Nairobi. Temperatures rise (24°C) and tourists have not yet arrived en masse. With 60% of rainy days, always have indoor alternatives planned. Not the best window, but acceptable if dates are constrained. February (8.7/10) is significantly better if possible.
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Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °C | Max °C | Rain % | Precip mm | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌤️ January | 15°C | 26°C | 30% | 1.7 | 11.7h | 8.3/10 |
| 🌤️ February | 15°C | 28°C | 28% | 1.6 | 11.8h | 8.7/10 |
| 🌤️ March | 16°C | 28°C | 43% | 2.5 | 11.6h | 8.1/10 |
| 🌦️ April | 16°C | 25°C | 86% | 5.9 | 10.3h | 7.0/10 |
| 🌦️ May | 15°C | 24°C | 60% | 3.6 | 10.8h | 7.3/10 |
| 🌤️ June | 13°C | 23°C | 30% | 1.2 | 10.2h | 7.8/10 |
| 🌤️ July | 13°C | 23°C | 15% | 0.6 | 8.9h | 8.0/10 |
| 🌤️ August | 13°C | 24°C | 26% | 1.0 | 9.1h | 7.9/10 |
| 🌤️ September | 14°C | 26°C | 25% | 1.1 | 10.7h | 8.4/10 |
| 🌤️ October | 15°C | 26°C | 47% | 3.1 | 11.0h | 7.7/10 |
| 🌧️ November | 15°C | 24°C | 76% | 4.7 | 10.2h | 7.0/10 |
| 🌤️ December | 15°C | 25°C | 55% | 2.7 | 11.2h | 7.5/10 |
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, Nairobi averages 24°C, 60% rainy days and 10.8h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 7.3/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
May vs February (best month)
The best month is February (score 8.7/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +4°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : -32%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +1.0h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Nairobi in May
Is May a good time to visit Nairobi?
May is an acceptable time for Nairobi (score 7.3/10). Conditions are decent but not optimal — consider February (8.7/10) if possible.
Does it rain a lot in Nairobi in May?
Yes, 60% of days see rain in May. Plan some indoor activities as backup.
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