Pemba weather in May

May in Pemba: hot, dry, with clean air — an excellent time to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Pemba🇲🇿 Mozambique · Eastern South Africa & Mozambique · Beach90
  1. 67Jan
  2. 72Feb
  3. 74Mar
  4. 79Apr
  5. 90May
  6. 94Jun
  7. 93Jul
  8. 93Aug
  9. 95Sep
  10. 91Oct
  11. 86Nov
  12. 77Dec

#6 of 12 months in Pemba · #176 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 90/100 (tier S)

Days
30°C
Nights
21°C
Wet days
6
Sun
10.5 h
Humidity
77%
Daylight
12 h
Pemba, Mozambique
Photo: Ton Rulkens from Mozambique · CC BY-SA 2.0

Traveller notes on Pemba in May

Other months in Pemba

Mozambique forum threads describe December in the Pemba/Cabo Delgado region as genuinely hot midsummer, commonly 30C+, with rain when it comes usually arriving as short, sharp storms in the late afternoon or early evening rather than settling in for the day. Several posters noted the heavier rainfall in this region typically doesn't arrive until mid-January into February, so December often means just the occasional rainy day breaking up a run of sunshine - locals described an odd rainy day as a welcome relief after a stretch of nonstop heat rather than a disruption. The consistent read: come prepared for real heat, with rain gear as a minor backup rather than the main concern.
CaboDelgadoRegular · December · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Forum posters name June as a strong pick for diving here, sitting inside the dry winter season (roughly June through September) that brings the clearest water of the year. Posters are consistent that March, April and May count as the genuine rainy season to avoid, with June marking a clean transition into the more reliable dry stretch. Pemba is consistently named as a strong base and springboard for exploring the wider Quirimbas Archipelago, with direct flights from Johannesburg and Maputo making it a practical gateway. Posters generally rate June through October, alongside December-February, as the two best windows overall for diving conditions here.
Tripadvisor community · June · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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Pemba climate normals — May

Daytime high30°C / 85°F🥵 hot
Nighttime low21°C / 70°F
Feels like (high)32°C / 90°F
Sea temperature29°C / 83°F♨️ bath-warm
Rainfall24 mm / 0.9 in☀️ dry
Rainy days6 days
Humidity77%💦 very humid
Dew point22°C / 71°F
Sunshine10.5 h/day
Daylight11.5 h
Wind18 km/h / 11 mph
Air quality (US AQI)23🍃 good

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

Crowds in Pemba 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 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Pemba'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 weatherPemba's best weather comes in June, July and September — separate windows, not one continuous season.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Pemba in May

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

  • Season

    Dry season

    1 May – 15 Nov · usually

    The dry season from May to November is the easier stretch for reaching the Quirimbas by boat, with average daytime temperatures around 28°C and the calmest seas of the year. Source ↗

What's on around the world in May →

Where is Pemba?

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Pemba in May — FAQ

Is May a good time to visit Pemba?
May in Pemba: hot, dry, with clean air — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #6 of 12 months for Pemba on SeasonMap's comfort score (90/100).
What is the weather like in Pemba in May?
In May, Pemba averages a daily high of 29.7°C and a low of 21.3°C, with about 23.9 mm of rain over roughly 6.3 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Pemba in May?
Pemba has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 23 in May.