Monthly climate guide
Pietermaritzburg weather in May
Expect warm weather in Pietermaritzburg in May: afternoons reach about 23°C (74°F), while nights drop to around 11°C (52°F). Around 40 mm of rain falls over the month (fairly dry), and skies are 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
- Only 2 months are cooler in Pietermaritzburg than May.
- Rain is well below Pietermaritzburg's usual level (around 56% less).
- In Pietermaritzburg, May is late autumn — the seasons are reversed south of the equator.
- Just 410 km apart, but Pietermaritzburg runs about 2°C warmer than Bloemfontein this month.
Avg high
23°C
74°F
Avg low
11°C
52°F
Rainfall
40 mm
fairly dry
Humidity
68%
relative
Sky
43%
cloud · a mix of sun and cloud
Pietermaritzburg weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28°C / 82°F | 16°C / 62°F | 159 mm | 79% | 73% |
| February | 27°C / 81°F | 17°C / 62°F | 140 mm | 80% | 70% |
| March | 27°C / 80°F | 16°C / 61°F | 119 mm | 80% | 65% |
| April | 24°C / 75°F | 13°C / 55°F | 68 mm | 76% | 58% |
| May | 23°C / 74°F | 11°C / 52°F | 40 mm | 68% | 43% |
| June | 21°C / 71°F | 8°C / 47°F | 11 mm | 61% | 32% |
| July | 21°C / 70°F | 8°C / 46°F | 33 mm | 62% | 34% |
| August | 23°C / 74°F | 9°C / 48°F | 27 mm | 62% | 44% |
| September | 25°C / 78°F | 11°C / 52°F | 70 mm | 67% | 56% |
| October | 26°C / 78°F | 12°C / 54°F | 115 mm | 72% | 65% |
| November | 26°C / 79°F | 14°C / 56°F | 145 mm | 76% | 76% |
| December | 27°C / 81°F | 16°C / 60°F | 167 mm | 79% | 79% |
What to pack for May
- T-shirts plus a light layer for the evening
- Comfortable trainers or sandals for long walks
- An extra layer — evenings are noticeably cooler than afternoons
- A small travel umbrella, just in case
Is May a good time to visit Pietermaritzburg?
Compare the months in the chart above to find your ideal window.
Best time to visit Pietermaritzburg →Other South Africa cities in May
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Pietermaritzburg weather in May. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/south-africa/pietermaritzburg/may
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/south-africa/pietermaritzburg/may">Pietermaritzburg weather in May</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/south-africa/pietermaritzburg" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Pietermaritzburg weather in May"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/south-africa/pietermaritzburg/may">Pietermaritzburg weather in May</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
Pietermaritzburg in May: quick answers
Is May a good time to visit Pietermaritzburg?
May is a reasonable time for Pietermaritzburg: highs around 23°C and about 40 mm of rain, though not one of the three best months.
How warm is Pietermaritzburg in May?
Average highs are about 23°C (74°F) and average lows about 11°C (52°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in Pietermaritzburg in May?
Pietermaritzburg typically gets around 40 mm of rain in May — fairly dry.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around Pietermaritzburg (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.