Your trips
Organise your trips easily with tabs
London
Johannesburg
Any date
+ Search
background

Johannesburg in May: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Planning a trip and want to know what the weather in Johannesburg in May will be like? Take a look at our weather guide for Johannesburg, based on historical data.
Check flight prices to Johannesburg on Avionero:
May

Weather in Johannesburg in May 2025

Great Weather
Mild
☀️
Sunny
May is an ideal time to visit Johannesburg if you're seeking a destination with brilliant weather. Anticipate average maximum temperatures of +19°C and about 19 sunny days, ensuring you'll have ample opportunities to soak up the sunshine. It's worth noting, though, that there may be some rainfall, with approximately 18 mm of precipitation over an average of 5 rainy days. So, prepare your sunglasses, a beach towel, and great walking shoes, as it's most likely going to be amazing weather. Search flights in one click on Avionero.

Average weather

☀️
+19°C
Avg. max. temperature
-3°C
Min.
+27°C
Max.
18 mm
Total precipitation
61%
Avg. humidity
1 m/s
Avg. wind
19 ☀️
Sunny Days
6 ⛅️
Cloudy
5 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Johannesburg has great weather in May.

Average temperature in Johannesburg in May

Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Johannesburg for May based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

Going from a maximum of +25°C during the day to a minimum of +3°C during the night, the temperature in May averages around +20°C.

The average maximum temperature goes down 23% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +20°C to +15°C.

Is Johannesburg warm or cold in May?

Johannesburg is typically mild in May.

Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +21°C to +19°C. The minimum temperature also goes down from +10°C to +6°C.

Pack a light jacket as it will be warm in the day and cool in the evenings.

May is one of the coolest months in Johannesburg, here is the comparison with other months:

Climate in Johannesburg in May

Johannesburg weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
AprilMayJune
Avg. temperature
+21°C+19°C+17°C
Min. temperature
0°C-3°C-5°C
Max. temperature
+29°C+27°C+25°C
Rainfall
51 mm18 mm10 mm
Wind
1 m/s1 m/s1 m/s
Humidity
68%61%59%
Air pressure
1019 HPa1021 HPa1023 HPa
Sunny days
111922
Cloudy days
665
Rainy days
1353
Snowy days
000

May often has better weather than April. It’s getting colder in May. From +21°C in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +19°C. As May arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 51 mm to 18 mm. It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 68% to 61%. The average wind speed doesn’t change much during May, staying around 1 m/s. The good news is there are likely to be more sunny days in May, from 11 to 19.

June brings much the same weather, it remains great.

Wind

Wind speed in Johannesburg in May based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The average wind speed is 1 m/s getting up to 2 m/s which is a light breeze; barely moving the tree leaves.

The average wind speed in Johannesburg is gradually increasing during May, going from 1 m/s to 2 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during May in Johannesburg based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 42% chance of rain on an average day in May, with total rainfall of approximately 114 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 21 mm, which is considered light rain. May is a pretty wet month with over 13 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of galoshes.
Here’s how May is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Johannesburg wettest month is December, where a typical day has a 77% chance of precipitation and 148 mm of rainfall per day. July, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 6% chance of precipitation and 5 mm of rainfall per day.

How was the weather last May in Johannesburg?

This is the weather in Johannesburg in May 2023:
1 May
☁️
+20°C
2 May
☀️
+24°C
3 May
☀️
+25°C
4 May
☀️
+23°C
5 May
☀️
+24°C
6 May
☁️
+24°C
7 May
☁️
+21°C
8 May
🌧️
+14°C
9 May
☀️
+18°C
10 May
☀️
+20°C
11 May
☀️
+21°C
12 May
☁️
+23°C
13 May
☀️
+22°C
14 May
☁️
+19°C
15 May
🌧️
+15°C
16 May
🌧️
+15°C
17 May
☁️
+18°C
18 May
☀️
+18°C
19 May
☀️
+17°C
20 May
☀️
+17°C
21 May
☀️
+19°C
22 May
☀️
+20°C
23 May
☁️
+16°C
24 May
☀️
+21°C
25 May
☀️
+22°C
26 May
☁️
+20°C
27 May
☁️
+20°C
28 May
☀️
+21°C
29 May
☁️
+21°C
30 May
☀️
+19°C
31 May
🌧️
+15°C
In May 2023 Johannesburg had 17 sunny days, 10 cloudy days, and 4 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +20°C, with an absolute maximum of +25°C and a minimum of +14°C. The average humidity was 74%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 26%. The average wind speed was 1 m/s, with a maximum of 11 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?

Climate Change over Years

This is how Johannesburg climate have been changing during last 43 years period.

The climate in Johannesburg in May has not changed much over the last 43 years.

The average temperature was the lowest in 2000 (+20°C) and the highest in 2015 (+25°C). The driest year was 2015 with only 464 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2022 with 1539 mm.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Johannesburg in May:

Is May a good time to visit Johannesburg?

Yes, May is a great time to go to Johannesburg, the weather couldn’t be better. Be ready to get outside, explore and enjoy. Check what other months that are a good time to visit Johannesburg.

Can you sunbathe in Johannesburg in May?

May has mild temperatures in Johannesburg. Not ideal for sunbathing, but still good for daytime outdoor activities, but plan for cool evenings. Pack a light jacket and shorts!

Is Johannesburg rainy in May?

Johannesburg is usually dry in May. Plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring.

Is it sunny in Johannesburg in May?

The amount of sunny days in Johannesburg during May varies; prepare for a mix of clouds and sun.

Other cities in South Africa

Check out the weather for other cities in South Africa.

Monthly weather in Johannesburg

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Johannesburg, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.

For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.