Watamu weather in May
May in Watamu: hot, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 21 rainy days.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#12 of 12 months in Watamu · #879 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 77/100 (tier B)
- Days
- 30°C
- Nights
- 25°C
- Wet days
- 21
- Sun
- 9.6 h
- Humidity
- 80%
- Daylight
- 12 h
Traveller notes on Watamu in May
Other months in Watamu
Watamu forum threads describe August as Kenya's cooler 'winter' by local standards, though the coast stays tropical - warm to hot days, cooler but rarely cold evenings, with a short shower possible in the morning or afternoon that usually clears within minutes. The standout theme across threads was wind: August is genuinely one of the windier months here, which forum regulars framed as a plus for kitesurfing and windsurfing but a real consideration for anyone hoping for calm-water snorkeling or diving, which posters said is better served by the October-to-March window instead.
Forum posters describe February as bringing welcome, gentle sea breezes that pick up in the afternoon rather than anything uncomfortably strong, and specifically note seaweed isn't a problem on the beaches this time of year - a real seasonal nuisance in some other months. Posters name the October-to-March stretch overall as the best window for Watamu's beach conditions, with February falling comfortably within that favorable run. The general climate is described as hot and humid with occasional short, intense showers followed quickly by a return to sun and high humidity - a pattern consistent with this being one of the coast's drier, more settled months rather than a washout risk.
Add your own note from Watamu's card on the map.
Watamu climate normals — May
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Watamu 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.
Quietschool holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Watamu'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 weatherWatamu's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
What's on in Watamu in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Nature
Green turtle nesting
1 Apr – 31 Oct · usuallyGreen, hawksbill and olive ridley turtles come up Watamu's beaches to nest through the middle of the year, peaking from April to October. Local Ocean Conservation's night patrols protect the nests, and hatchlings follow roughly two months behind. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Watamu — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Watamu?
Watamu in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Watamu?
- May in Watamu: hot, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 21 rainy days. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Watamu on SeasonMap's comfort score (77/100).
- What is the weather like in Watamu in May?
- In May, Watamu averages a daily high of 29.7°C and a low of 24.9°C, with about 167.9 mm of rain over roughly 20.7 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Watamu in May?
- Watamu has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 34 in May.
Within 300 km: Mombasa's Green turtle nesting around 1 Mar – 31 Jul, and Lamu's The long rains around 1 Apr – 15 Jun.