Kaohsiung weather in May

May in Kaohsiung: sweltering, soaked, with muggy air — a gamble, with 18 rainy days.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Kaohsiung🇹🇼 Taiwan · Taiwan & Okinawa · City50
  1. 87Jan
  2. 90Feb
  3. 80Mar
  4. 69Apr
  5. 50May
  6. 40Jun
  7. 43Jul
  8. 37Aug
  9. 52Sep
  10. 60Oct
  11. 72Nov
  12. 84Dec

#9 of 12 months in Kaohsiung · #1279 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 50/100 (tier D)

Days
32°C
Nights
26°C
Wet days
18
Sun
9.6 h
Humidity
80%
Daylight
13 h
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Photo: Sunny Li · Pexels

Traveller notes on Kaohsiung in May

Notes from nearby Alishan (111 km away)

Kaohsiung doesn't have its own notes for May yet — these are about Alishan, close enough to share the season.

Taiwan forum threads are direct that late May marks the start of the plum rain season, bringing rain on roughly half the days through the following weeks, with fog at Alishan described as an almost daily occurrence even outside heavy rain spells. The more typical pattern posters described was sunny mornings followed by afternoon thunderstorms lasting an hour or two before clearing again, rather than sustained all-day washouts. One specific frustration flagged repeatedly: the famous Alishan sunrise is genuinely hit-and-miss on foggy mornings, so visitors chasing it were advised to build in a backup morning if possible, and to always carry a proper rain jacket or poncho.
ChiayiMountainRegular · May · 1 month ago · about Alishan · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Kaohsiung

Forum posters describe August in Kaohsiung as basically a daily heatwave, with one local citing temperatures around 30-38C, and posters generally naming July and August as Taiwan's hottest months overall, typically 33-36C with high humidity. Posters consistently flag August through October as typhoon season, a real factor to track for any Kaohsiung trip this time of year. Posters describe rain as occurring periodically rather than daily, though June through August sees the heaviest rainfall totals of the year. Posters are direct that August isn't the ideal weather month, but note millions of visitors still come to Taiwan every summer regardless. Posters generally rate August as hot, humid and typhoon-watchful, but still genuinely travel-friendly for Kaohsiung.
Tripadvisor community · August · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Forum posters describe Kaohsiung in February as warm and dry enough that jackets weren't needed day or night on at least one recent visit, consistent with the broader pattern posters give for southern Taiwan generally - mild winters, typically 15-20C, not the rainy season though a stray shower is always possible. The one scheduling wrinkle worth planning around: Chinese New Year (early-to-mid February) brings sold-out public transport and higher accommodation rates, but posters call it worth the hassle for the festive atmosphere, which they say isn't matched at any other time of year.
Tripadvisor community · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Kaohsiung's card on the map.

Kaohsiung climate normals — May

Daytime high32°C / 89°F🔥 sweltering
Nighttime low26°C / 79°F
Feels like (high)36°C / 97°F
Sea temperature28°C / 82°F😎 warm sea
Rainfall246 mm / 9.7 in⛈ soaked
Rainy days18 days
Humidity80%💦 very humid
Dew point24°C / 74°F
Sunshine9.6 h/day
Daylight13.2 h
Wind13 km/h / 8 mph
Air quality (US AQI)89🙂 moderate

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Kaohsiung 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)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Kaohsiung'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 weatherKaohsiung's weather peaks December–February.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Kaohsiung in May

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Season

    Plum rain season

    1 May – 15 Jun · usuallyMonsoon

    The front that ends the long southern dry spell. It comes in heavy blocks rather than all day, and it is the first thing that clears the winter air off the harbour.

What's on around the world in May →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Kaohsiung — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Kaohsiung?

Loading map…

Kaohsiung in May — FAQ

Is May a good time to visit Kaohsiung?
May in Kaohsiung: sweltering, soaked, with muggy air — a gamble, with 18 rainy days. It ranks #9 of 12 months for Kaohsiung on SeasonMap's comfort score (50/100).
What is the weather like in Kaohsiung in May?
In May, Kaohsiung averages a daily high of 31.6°C and a low of 25.9°C, with about 246.2 mm of rain over roughly 17.5 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Kaohsiung in May?
Kaohsiung has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 89 in May.

Within 300 km: Alishan's Firefly season around 10 Apr – 15 May, and Sun Moon Lake's Firefly season around 1 Apr – 15 May.