SeasonMapNosy Be weather in May
Madagascar
May in Nosy Be: sweltering, a little rain, with clean air — fine if you can take 35°C afternoons.
#5 of 12 months in Nosy Be · #334 of 1383 destinations to visit in May · comfort 87/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Nosy Be in May
Other months in Nosy Be
Nosy Be's forum calls June one of the cooler, drier months in Madagascar — regulars say the water is swimmable but comfort varies by how used you are to warmer seas, since it's noticeably less balmy than the peak of summer. It also marks the start of the island's high season, so booking ahead is worth it.
Add your own note from Nosy Be's card on the map.
Nosy Be climate normals — May
| Daytime high | 31°C / 88°F | 🔥 sweltering |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 21°C / 70°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 35°C / 95°F | |
| Sea temperature | 30°C / 86°F | ♨️ bath-warm |
| Rainfall | 54 mm / 2.1 in | 🌦 some rain |
| Rainy days | 15 days | |
| Humidity | 76% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 21°C / 71°F | |
| Sunshine | 10.5 h/day | |
| Daylight | 11.5 h | |
| Wind | 14 km/h / 9 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 18 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Nosy Be 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 crowdsThe dry season, Festival Donia, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Nosy Be'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 weatherNosy Be's weather peaks June–August, best around July.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Nosy Be in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
The dry season
1 May – 15 Nov · usuallyCrowdedThe long dry stretch, and why the island's season runs May to November. Flat mornings, the boats to Nosy Iranja and Tanikely going daily, and effectively no rain.
- Festival
Festival Donia
20 May – 15 Jun · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook earlyThe Indian Ocean's biggest music festival, held around Pentecost: four nights of concerts plus a carnival and pirogue races, with tens of thousands coming over from the mainland. Source ↗
Where is Nosy Be?
Nosy Be in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Nosy Be?
- May in Nosy Be: sweltering, a little rain, with clean air — fine if you can take 35°C afternoons. It ranks #5 of 12 months for Nosy Be on SeasonMap's comfort score (87/100).
- What is the weather like in Nosy Be in May?
- In May, Nosy Be averages a daily high of 30.9°C and a low of 21.3°C, with about 54.3 mm of rain over roughly 14.9 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Nosy Be in May?
- Nosy Be has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 18 in May.