Your May weather guide
HotWeather in Bahamas in May
May is a good choice for the Bahamas if you want warm swimming weather and can accept some rain. Daytime temperatures average around 27°C, nights stay near 24°C, and there are about 10 rainy days during the month. For a UK traveller, that means a clear step up in warmth without daytime temperatures regularly becoming extreme. The catch is the humidity and the need to keep outdoor plans flexible.
Long-term climate averages for Nassau, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Bahamas, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Nassau.
- Average daytime high
- 26.9°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 28°C
- Average night-time low
- 24.1°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 23°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +10.3°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sea temperature
- 26.3°C
- year to year: 25°C to 27°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 6.9h
- 52% of 13.2 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 10
- 78 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 75%
- Days over 25°C
- 95%
- 1% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 31.4°C
- 2017-05-25
- Record low 1991-2020
- 18.6°C
- 2006-05-04
- Flight from London
- ≈ 9 h 30 min
- 6990 km, long-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How May compares
May is the 6th warmest month of the year in Bahamas and ranks 45th of 134 destinations we compare for May - see where else is hot in May. Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Bahamas is 10.3°C warmer by day and 15.8°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Bahamas peaks at 26.9°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 28.3°C or more. About 95% of days top 25°C and 1 in 100 pass 30°C. Nights average 24.1°C; one night in ten drops to 22.7°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 31.4°C (2017-05-25) and the coldest night 18.6°C (2006-05-04).
Rain in May
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 10 days with 1 mm or more, 78 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2018 with 330 mm, the driest 2000 with 3 mm. Humidity averages 75%.
Sea temperature in May
The sea averages 26.3°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 25.4°C to 27.0°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (29.7°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 6.9 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 13.2 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:25 and sets about 19:47 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 48%.
Is May a good time to visit Bahamas?
Yes - it is one of the better months: hot days, manageable rain. The best months for Bahamas on our scoring are April, March, December; months averaging 25°C or more: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov.
Warm seas, sticky afternoons and mild evenings
The warmth is dependable: 95% of days reach 25°C, so light summer clothing should be your main packing choice. Humidity averages 75%, which can make the air feel sticky even when the temperature looks manageable. Loose, breathable clothes and a quieter pace around midday are sensible, especially if you dislike humid heat. Evenings offer only modest relief, with nights averaging 24.1°C, so do not expect a distinctly cool end to the day. The sea averages 26.3°C, making swimming a strong reason to choose May. This suits travellers who want to spend time in the water more than those who need cool conditions for being active outdoors.
Enough sunshine, but keep room for rain
May brings about 6.9 hours of sunshine within 13.2 hours of daylight, leaving useful scope for outdoor time without promising clear skies throughout the day. Rain is the main compromise: about 10 days receive measurable rainfall, so a holiday built around uninterrupted sunshine is a gamble. That does not mean every wet day is a complete washout, but it is sensible to pack a light waterproof and have something to do indoors. Keep swimming and other outdoor plans movable rather than tied to a rigid schedule. May works best if warmth matters more to you than staying dry; it is less convincing if rain would spoil the trip.
A little perspective
Bahamas through the year
May is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23.6°C | 21.1°C | 24.2°C | 5.3 | 41 | 7 | 24% |
| February | 23.9°C | 21.1°C | 23.9°C | 6.5 | 32 | 6 | 31% |
| Marchbest | 24.4°C | 21.3°C | 24.1°C | 6.8 | 36 | 6 | 40% |
| Aprilbest | 25.6°C | 22.6°C | 25.0°C | 7.3 | 50 | 7 | 70% |
| MaySelected | 26.9°C | 24.1°C | 26.3°C | 6.9 | 78 | 10 | 95% |
| June | 28.5°C | 25.9°C | 28.1°C | 5.0 | 97 | 15 | 100% |
| July | 29.5°C | 26.7°C | 29.2°C | 6.3 | 73 | 15 | 100% |
| August | 29.6°C | 26.8°C | 29.7°C | 5.9 | 117 | 18 | 100% |
| September | 28.9°C | 26.3°C | 29.3°C | 4.6 | 133 | 20 | 100% |
| October | 27.6°C | 25.2°C | 28.3°C | 5.0 | 133 | 17 | 98% |
| November | 25.8°C | 23.5°C | 26.5°C | 5.6 | 71 | 9 | 71% |
| Decemberbest | 24.5°C | 22.2°C | 25.2°C | 5.5 | 40 | 7 | 45% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in May
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Mauritius · 27°C by day · sea 27°C
Flic en Flac
United States · 26°C by day · sea 25°C
Hawaii
United States · 28°C by day · sea 27°C
Miami
Dominican Republic · 28°C by day · sea 27°C
Punta Cana
Antigua · 28°C by day · sea 27°C
Antigua
A little more detail
Bahamas in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Bahamas hot in May?
Bahamas is hot in May: the average daytime high is 26.9°C and nights average 24.1°C. About 95% of May days reach 25°C or more.
Can you swim in the sea in Bahamas in May?
The sea around Bahamas averages 26.3°C in May, which is warm enough for most people to swim comfortably. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 25°C to 27°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Bahamas in May?
Bahamas sees about 10 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 78 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 2018 (330 mm) and the driest was 2000 (3 mm).
How sunny is Bahamas in May?
Bahamas gets around 6.9 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 13.2 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Bahamas compare with the UK in May?
Bahamas is on average 10.3°C warmer than London by day in May (26.9°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Bahamas?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Bahamas reached 31.4°C on 2017-05-25, and the coldest night dropped to 18.6°C on 2006-05-04.
How much warmer is the Bahamas than London in May?
The average daytime high is 26.9°C, compared with 16.6°C in London - a difference of 10.3°C. That is a substantial change from a UK May, and the warm nights mean the contrast continues after sunset.
Is May the best month to visit?
May is a reasonable choice for warm seas and reliable warmth, but April, March and December come out ahead overall. Choose May if humid conditions and some rain are acceptable trade-offs, rather than expecting the most favourable weather of the year.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London takes about 9 h 30 min, making this a long-haul trip. If weather is your main reason for travelling that far, weigh May's warm sea against its rain risk before committing.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Nassau. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2.6 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C