#1Hot
Goa
- Day
- 32.5°C
- Sea
- 29.6°C
- Sun
- 5.7h
- Rain days
- 8
Your May weather guide
Weather in India in May
May is a mixed choice for India: it suits travellers comfortable with heat and flexible plans, rather than those seeking cooler days or reliably dry weather. Country averages reach 31°C by day and stay at 26°C overnight, with 17 rainy days making rain a real planning consideration. Between Goa and Kerala, Goa is the better option for fewer wet days. Kerala is slightly cooler during the day, but rain is much more frequent.
Long-term climate averages, not a forecast · 1991-2020
- Average daytime high
- 31.1°Cacross 2 destinations
- Average night-time low
- 26.0°Cafter dark
- Sea temperature
- 29.6°Cwarm enough to swim
- Rainy days
- 17days1 mm or more
India, month by month
Turn up the warmth
Warmest places in India in May
Ranked by average daytime high. The full comparison is in the table below.
#2Hot
Kerala
- Day
- 29.8°C
- Sea
- 29.7°C
- Sun
- 2.3h
- Rain days
- 27
India destinations ranked for May
All 2 places we track in India, ordered by daytime high.
May climate overview
Daytime highs across India in May run from 29.8°C (Kerala) to 32.5°C (Goa). In Goa about 100% of May days reach 25°C. Nights average 26.0°C; the coldest 10% of nights in Kerala fall to 25°C or below.
Rainfall in May
Expect around 17 rainy days (1 mm or more) in May, with Goa the driest (8 days) and Kerala the wettest (27 days). The wettest May at Goa between 1991 and 2020 was 2006 with 438 mm; the driest was 2003 with 1 mm.
Sea temperature
The sea averages 29.6°C around India in May - warmest at Kerala (29.7°C). That is comfortable for swimming.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.0 hours of sunshine a day on average, out of 12.7 hours of daylight (sunshine estimated from cloud cover).
May against the rest of the year in India
May is the 4th warmest month of the twelve in India. It is 0.7°C cooler than April and 3.0°C cooler in June. The hottest month here is April (32°C) and the coolest July (27°C).
Which part of India in May?
- Most sunshine: Goa, 5.7 h a day.
- Driest: Goa, about 8 rainy days.
- Warmest sea: Kerala, 30°C.
- Hottest: Goa, 33°C by day - intense for sightseeing.
- Coolest (better for walking and cities): Kerala, 30°C.
What to pack for India in May
Based on the averages: light, loose clothing and serious sun protection - midday highs sit around 31°C; a rain jacket - roughly 17 wet days; swimwear - the sea is 30°C.
Similar weather elsewhere in May
Within 1.5°C of India's May daytime average: Puerto Vallarta (32°C, sea 26°C), Guanacaste (31°C, sea 29°C), Hanoi (31°C), Hurghada (31°C, sea 25°C), Las Vegas (30°C). See the full ranking for May.
Goa is the better choice for drier weather
Goa offers the stronger balance if you want time outdoors without rain shaping so much of your trip. It has 8 rainy days in May, compared with Kerala's 26, though that is not a promise of uninterrupted dry weather. The catch is heat: daytime temperatures average 32°C, making Goa the hotter option. Plan more demanding activities for the cooler parts of the day and leave room for shade or an indoor break around midday. Nights average 26°C, so do not expect a cool evening reset. Light clothing and accommodation with effective cooling are sensible priorities if heat affects your sleep.
Kerala is cooler, but much wetter
Kerala's daytime average of 30°C is lower than Goa's, but it is still hot rather than mild. With 26 rainy days, May is better suited to travellers who can rearrange outdoor plans than to anyone relying on dry days throughout their stay. Keep rain protection handy and choose plans that are easy to shorten or move indoors. A rainy day does not necessarily mean rain throughout the day, but the frequency makes flexibility important. Evenings offer no temperature advantage over Goa, with nights also averaging 26°C. Choose Kerala for the slightly lower daytime heat only if frequent rain is an acceptable trade-off.
A little more detail
India in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Where is the hottest place in India in May?
Goa is the warmest of the 2 places we track in India in May with an average high of 32.5°C; Kerala is the coolest at 29.8°C.
Is the sea warm in India in May?
The sea averages 22°C or more at Goa (30°C), Kerala (30°C) in May.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming in May?
Yes, in temperature terms: the sea averages 30°C in both Goa and Kerala. That suits travellers who dislike chilly water, though it may feel less refreshing after a hot day. Water temperature alone does not tell you whether conditions are safe for swimming.
How much warmer is India than London in May?
India's country daytime average is 31°C, compared with London's 17°C. That is a substantial change in feel, so pack for heat rather than a British spring and avoid making your outdoor schedule too demanding, particularly around midday.
Does May bring sunshine as well as rain?
Yes, but do not equate hot weather with sunshine throughout the day. India's country average is 4.0 hours of sunshine, alongside 17 rainy days. Allow for a mix of conditions rather than planning every day around sustained sunshine.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at 2 destination points.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