Nainital weather in May

May in Nainital: warm, rainy, with poor air quality — fine if you can take poor air.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Nainital🇮🇳 India · Himalaya · City87
  1. 71Jan
  2. 78Feb
  3. 87Mar
  4. 93Apr
  5. 87May
  6. 74Jun
  7. 61Jul
  8. 60Aug
  9. 69Sep
  10. 85Oct
  11. 84Nov
  12. 77Dec

#3 of 12 months in Nainital · #336 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 87/100 (tier A)

Days
26°C
Nights
13°C
Wet days
14
Sun
12.1 h
Humidity
60%
Daylight
14 h
Nainital, India
Photo: Lokesh Kumar · Pexels

Traveller notes on Nainital in May

Notes from nearby Rishikesh (137 km away)

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

Rishikesh-forum threads on a May visit describe afternoons as genuinely hot and humid, posters naming highs near thirty-six degrees as the reason outdoor activity works better scheduled for early morning or evening. Regulars call rafting and bungee jumping genuinely still running despite the heat, several posters naming Himalayan snowmelt as the reason river levels and rapids stay exciting this time of year. Posters call May genuinely coinciding with Chardham pilgrimage season, several regulars naming real crowds as a factor to plan around regardless of activity choice. Regulars call real hydration and sun protection essential for a May visit, several threads naming this standard advice given how intense midday heat gets. Posters recommend booking rafting or other activities for the cooler parts of the day, several regulars calling this the practical way to enjoy May here. The record: 34.8C days, 21.3C nights, 53mm across over 10 days and 54 percent humidity.
RishikeshMayRegular · May · 1 month ago · about Rishikesh · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Nainital

Forum posters consistently rate October as a good time to visit Nainital, citing typical temperatures around 10-16C, pleasant conditions through the day and a bit chilly after sunset, with no chance of snowfall this early in the season. Posters describe rainfall as minimal this time of year, with mornings and evenings both cool and comfortable. Posters do flag crowding as the main drawback, particularly around long weekends when the hill station can get genuinely overcrowded with domestic tourists. Posters generally rate October as one of the better months to visit Nainital, pleasant, low-rain conditions offset only by potential crowds on peak weekends.
Tripadvisor community · October · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Forum posters describe April daytimes as pleasant, with forecasts commonly citing highs around 29C and lows around 15C, though mornings and evenings run genuinely chilly enough that a jacket or woolen layer is standard advice. Posters note the lake itself remains enjoyable through mid-April without any issue, though some posters raised questions about water levels dropping later in the month. Posters do flag that temperatures climb further as April progresses, with late-April conditions noticeably warmer than early-month, and note that hazy conditions can sometimes limit clear Himalayan views from the ropeway this time of year. Posters generally recommend earlier April over the tail end of the month for the most comfortable combination of pleasant days and still-cool evenings.
Tripadvisor community · April · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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

Nainital climate normals — May

Daytime high26°C / 78°F🌤 warm
Nighttime low13°C / 56°F
Feels like (high)26°C / 79°F
Rainfall93 mm / 3.6 in🌧 rainy
Rainy days14 days
Humidity60%💧 humid
Dew point9°C / 48°F
Sunshine12.1 h/day
Daylight13.6 h
Wind11 km/h / 7 mph
Air quality (US AQI)106😷 poor

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

Crowds in Nainital 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.

Peak crowdsSummer lake season, Summer vacation (north & east) in India(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Nainital'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).

Best weatherNainital's weather peaks March–May, best around April.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Nainital in May

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

  • Season

    Summer lake season

    15 Apr – 30 JunSchool holidaysCrowdedBook early

    The town's whole year happens in these weeks: rowing boats out from the Mallital ghats all day, the Mall closed to traffic in the evening, and a long queue for the ropeway up to Snow View.

What's on around the world in May →

Nearby, and something's on

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

Where is Nainital?

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Nainital in May — FAQ

Is May a good time to visit Nainital?
May in Nainital: warm, rainy, with poor air quality — fine if you can take poor air. It ranks #3 of 12 months for Nainital on SeasonMap's comfort score (87/100).
What is the weather like in Nainital in May?
In May, Nainital averages a daily high of 25.8°C and a low of 13.1°C, with about 92.5 mm of rain over roughly 14 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Nainital in May?
Nainital has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 106 in May.

Within 300 km: Rishikesh's Rafting and camp season reopens around 15 Sep – 30 Jun, and Agra's Taj night viewing on 1 Jan – 31 Dec.