Baghdad weather in May
May in Baghdad: sweltering, dry, with poor air quality — a gamble, with 36°C afternoons.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#8 of 12 months in Baghdad · #1239 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 54/100 (tier D)
- Days
- 38°C
- Nights
- 22°C
- Wet days
- 2
- Sun
- 12.3 h
- Humidity
- 23%
- Daylight
- 14 h
Traveller notes on Baghdad in May
Other months in Baghdad
Forum posters consistently name March through May as a good season for central Iraq, including Baghdad, in sharp contrast to summer, when daily highs above 40C make travel genuinely unpleasant. Posters note that Iraqi Kurdistan, further north, can still be cold and rainy at this point in spring, a real regional contrast worth knowing before planning an itinerary that spans both areas. Posters also point to winter as a solid alternative window given its milder temperatures. Posters generally rate March as a comfortable, moderate-temperature time to visit Baghdad specifically, well ahead of the extreme summer heat, though forum discussion consistently emphasizes checking current security guidance alongside any weather planning for Iraq.
Add your own note from Baghdad's card on the map.
Baghdad climate normals — May
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Baghdad in May
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Shoulder seasonschool holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Baghdad's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherBaghdad's best weather comes in March, April and November — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Baghdad in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Hazard
Shamal dust storms
15 Mar – 30 Jun · usuallyDust seasonClosuresNorth-westerlies lift the dried marsh and desert soil; a bad day turns the sky orange and grounds flights at Baghdad International. Several a season, each lasting a day or two. Source ↗
Where is Baghdad?
Baghdad in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Baghdad?
- May in Baghdad: sweltering, dry, with poor air quality — a gamble, with 36°C afternoons. It ranks #8 of 12 months for Baghdad on SeasonMap's comfort score (54/100).
- What is the weather like in Baghdad in May?
- In May, Baghdad averages a daily high of 38°C and a low of 21.5°C, with about 6.4 mm of rain over roughly 1.7 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Baghdad in May?
- Baghdad has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 104 in May.