Monthly climate guide
Cape Town weather in May
May in Cape Town is typically mild, with average daytime highs around 18°C (65°F) and night-time lows near 15°C (59°F). The month usually brings about 45 mm of rain (fairly dry) and is a mix of sun and cloud. Daytime highs are about the same as April and 2°C warmer than June.
What stands out in May
- Just 40 km apart, but Cape Town runs about 2°C cooler than Stellenbosch this month.
- Seasonally, May counts as late autumn in Cape Town — the seasons are reversed south of the equator.
- Comfortable temperatures make it easy to walk between V&A Waterfront and Table Mountain.
- There's little difference between day and night (around 3°C).
Avg high
18°C
65°F
Avg low
15°C
59°F
Rainfall
45 mm
fairly dry
Humidity
81%
relative
Sky
35%
cloud · a mix of sun and cloud
Cape Town weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22°C / 71°F | 19°C / 65°F | 14 mm | 79% | 19% |
| February | 22°C / 71°F | 19°C / 65°F | 9 mm | 79% | 18% |
| March | 21°C / 69°F | 18°C / 64°F | 20 mm | 81% | 23% |
| April | 19°C / 67°F | 16°C / 61°F | 34 mm | 79% | 25% |
| May | 18°C / 65°F | 15°C / 59°F | 45 mm | 81% | 35% |
| June | 16°C / 62°F | 14°C / 57°F | 121 mm | 79% | 37% |
| July | 16°C / 60°F | 13°C / 56°F | 91 mm | 80% | 31% |
| August | 16°C / 60°F | 13°C / 55°F | 81 mm | 80% | 35% |
| September | 16°C / 62°F | 14°C / 56°F | 41 mm | 79% | 34% |
| October | 18°C / 64°F | 15°C / 58°F | 29 mm | 80% | 28% |
| November | 19°C / 66°F | 16°C / 60°F | 27 mm | 78% | 27% |
| December | 21°C / 69°F | 17°C / 63°F | 11 mm | 78% | 22% |
What to pack for May
- A warm sweater or fleece for layering
- A mid-weight jacket
- A small travel umbrella, just in case
- Sunglasses
Is May a good time to visit Cape Town?
Our Cape Town guide recommends: November to March, the Southern Hemisphere summer — outside this window, winter (June–August) brings more rain and wind.
Book the Table Mountain cableway or a hike for early in your trip if possible — it closes in high wind, so a flexible schedule helps.
Best time to visit Cape Town →Other South Africa cities in May
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Cape Town weather in May. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/south-africa/cape-town/may
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/south-africa/cape-town/may">Cape Town weather in May</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/south-africa/cape-town" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Cape Town weather in May"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/south-africa/cape-town/may">Cape Town weather in May</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
Cape Town in May: quick answers
Is May a good time to visit Cape Town?
May is a reasonable time for Cape Town: highs around 18°C and about 45 mm of rain, though not one of the three best months.
How warm is Cape Town in May?
Average highs are about 18°C (65°F) and average lows about 15°C (59°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in Cape Town in May?
Cape Town typically gets around 45 mm of rain in May — fairly dry.
When is the best time to visit Cape Town?
November to March, the Southern Hemisphere summer — outside this window, winter (June–August) brings more rain and wind.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around Cape Town (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.