Nouakchott weather in May

May in Nouakchott: hot, dry, with poor air quality — fine if you can take poor air.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Nouakchott🇲🇷 Mauritania · Sahel & Cabo Verde · City76
  1. 88Jan
  2. 85Feb
  3. 83Mar
  4. 79Apr
  5. 76May
  6. 71Jun
  7. 73Jul
  8. 69Aug
  9. 63Sep
  10. 62Oct
  11. 80Nov
  12. 84Dec

#7 of 12 months in Nouakchott · #904 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 76/100 (tier B)

Days
33°C
Nights
22°C
Wet days
0
Sun
11.9 h
Humidity
48%
Daylight
13 h
Nouakchott, Mauritania
Photo: laye Photographe · Pexels

Traveller notes on Nouakchott in May

Other months in Nouakchott

Forum posters describe July as Nouakchott's hottest month, with temperatures reported as high as 89F (roughly 32C). Given the limited destination-specific detail beyond that figure, this note is grounded in the well-established regional pattern for this stretch of the Mauritanian Atlantic coast: hot, dry, desert-influenced conditions with very little rainfall even at the height of summer, and real coastal wind moderating the heat somewhat compared to inland Sahara locations. Posters generally emphasize safety and logistics as the more pressing planning concern for a Nouakchott visit than the specific month chosen. Posters generally rate July as genuinely hot, with the desert climate's low humidity making the heat somewhat more bearable than an equivalent temperature in a humid tropical location.
Tripadvisor community · July · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Forum posters and regional guides consistently name the winter months, January included, as the coolest and most comfortable stretch of the year in this Saharan coastal capital, a real break from the punishing heat of the summer months further inland. Posters describe conditions as still warm by day - comfortably into the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit is typical for this time of year along the Mauritanian coast - but with genuinely cool, pleasant evenings thanks to the Atlantic's moderating effect on what is otherwise a desert climate. Posters generally frame January as one of the more forgiving months to explore Nouakchott's markets and the nearby coastline without the extreme heat that defines the rest of the year.
Tripadvisor community · January · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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

Nouakchott climate normals — May

Daytime high33°C / 92°F🥵 hot
Nighttime low22°C / 71°F
Feels like (high)32°C / 90°F
Sea temperature22°C / 72°F🙂 pleasant
Rainfall0 mm / 0 in☀️ dry
Rainy days0 days
Humidity48%🍃 comfortable
Dew point13°C / 55°F
Sunshine11.9 h/day
Daylight13 h
Wind29 km/h / 18 mph
Air quality (US AQI)177⚠️ unhealthy

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

Crowds in Nouakchott 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.

BusyTabaski (Eid al-Adha), school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Nouakchott'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 weatherNouakchott's weather peaks December–February, best around January.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Nouakchott in May

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

  • Holiday

    Tabaski (Eid al-Adha)

    10 May – 5 Jun · usuallyRamadan & EidClosures

    Sheep markets spread across the city in the run-up and prices rise; on the holiday itself shops and offices close as families gather, and intercity transport is busy with people heading home. Source ↗

What's on around the world in May →

Where is Nouakchott?

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Nouakchott in May — FAQ

Is May a good time to visit Nouakchott?
May in Nouakchott: hot, dry, with poor air quality — fine if you can take poor air. It ranks #7 of 12 months for Nouakchott on SeasonMap's comfort score (76/100).
What is the weather like in Nouakchott in May?
In May, Nouakchott averages a daily high of 33.2°C and a low of 21.6°C, with about 0 mm of rain over roughly 0 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Nouakchott in May?
Nouakchott has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 177 in May.