Your May weather guide
HotWeather in Marrakech in May
May is a good time to visit Marrakech if you want warm days and can plan around hotter afternoons. Average highs reach about 28°C, compared with about 17°C in London, while nights fall to around 13°C. Rain is an occasional consideration rather than the main drawback. The bigger catch is that some days become considerably hotter than the average, so May suits travellers happy to slow down at midday and keep outdoor plans flexible.
Long-term climate averages for Marrakesh, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Marrakech, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Marrakesh.
- Average daytime high
- 27.9°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 35°C
- Average night-time low
- 12.6°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 9°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +11.3°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 8.4h
- 62% of 13.6 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 4
- 16 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 56%
- Days over 25°C
- 68%
- 35% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 41.2°C
- 2017-05-16
- Record low 1991-2020
- 4.7°C
- 2001-05-05
- Flight from London
- ≈ 3 h 36 min
- 2263 km, short-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 5th warmest month of the year in Marrakech and ranks 36th of 134 destinations we compare for May - see where else is hot in May. Within Morocco it is 1st of 2 (Morocco in May). Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Marrakech is 11.3°C warmer by day and 4.3°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Marrakech peaks at 27.9°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 35.0°C or more. About 68% of days top 25°C and 1 in 3 pass 30°C. Nights average 12.6°C; one night in ten drops to 8.5°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 41.2°C (2017-05-16) and the coldest night 4.7°C (2001-05-05).
Rain in May
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 4 days with 1 mm or more, 16 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2011 with 54 mm, the driest 2012 with 1 mm. Humidity averages 56%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 8.4 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 13.6 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 05:35 and sets about 19:21 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 38%.
Is May a good time to visit Marrakech?
Yes - it is one of the better months: hot days, manageable rain and long sunny days. The best months for Marrakech on our scoring are September, May, April; months averaging 25°C or more: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
Warm enough for summer clothes, sometimes too hot for a full day outdoors
Expect warmth to shape your plans rather than simply make a pleasant backdrop. Days reach 30°C on 35% of occasions, while the warmest 10% reach 35°C or more. That makes May a good fit for travellers who enjoy heat, but less comfortable for anyone hoping to walk continuously through the afternoon. Put more demanding outdoor plans in the morning, leave room for shade and indoor breaks around midday, and carry water. Lightweight clothes, a hat and sun protection make sense. The average high is useful for packing, but it is not a ceiling: be prepared to change pace if your stay coincides with hotter weather.
Plenty of sunshine, but pack for cooler evenings
With about 4 rainy days, rain need not dominate your plans, though a light waterproof is sensible if you dislike getting caught out. Around 8.4 hours of sunshine within 13.6 hours of daylight gives you scope to spread outdoor time beyond the hottest part of the day; it does not mean every hour will be sunny. Evenings call for a different approach to clothing. The average night low is 12.6°C, and the coldest 10% of nights fall to 8.5°C or below. Bring a jumper or light jacket rather than relying entirely on summer clothes. May works well if you are comfortable switching between daytime heat and distinctly cooler conditions after dark.
A little perspective
Marrakech through the year
May is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17.6°C | 3.2°C | 6.2 | 33 | 5 | 0% |
| February | 19.4°C | 4.7°C | 6.6 | 30 | 6 | 8% |
| March | 22.3°C | 7.2°C | 6.9 | 39 | 6 | 30% |
| Aprilbest | 24.2°C | 9.7°C | 7.6 | 34 | 5 | 45% |
| MaySelectedbest | 27.9°C | 12.6°C | 8.4 | 16 | 4 | 68% |
| June | 32.1°C | 15.8°C | 11.0 | 7 | 3 | 96% |
| July | 36.1°C | 18.5°C | 11.7 | 4 | 1 | 100% |
| August | 35.8°C | 19.0°C | 10.6 | 7 | 3 | 100% |
| Septemberbest | 31.1°C | 16.5°C | 8.4 | 12 | 3 | 94% |
| October | 27.1°C | 12.9°C | 6.6 | 23 | 4 | 67% |
| November | 21.8°C | 7.8°C | 6.4 | 35 | 5 | 25% |
| December | 18.8°C | 4.7°C | 6.2 | 26 | 5 | 2% |
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
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.
The Gambia · 28°C by day · sea 25°C
Kololi
Tunisia · 27°C by day · sea 19°C
Sousse
United States · 28°C by day · sea 27°C
Miami
Mauritius · 27°C by day · sea 27°C
Flic en Flac
Cuba · 29°C by day · sea 27°C
Varadero
A little more detail
Marrakech in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Marrakech hot in May?
Marrakech is hot in May: the average daytime high is 27.9°C and nights average 12.6°C. About 68% of May days reach 25°C or more.
How much does it rain in Marrakech in May?
Marrakech sees about 4 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 16 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 2011 (54 mm) and the driest was 2012 (1 mm).
How sunny is Marrakech in May?
Marrakech gets around 8.4 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 13.6 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Marrakech compare with the UK in May?
Marrakech is on average 11.3°C warmer than London by day in May (27.9°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Marrakech?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Marrakech reached 41.2°C on 2017-05-16, and the coldest night dropped to 4.7°C on 2001-05-05.
How much warmer is Marrakech than London in May?
Marrakech's average daytime high is 27.9°C, against 16.6°C in London - a difference of 11.3°C. That is a substantial step up in warmth, so pack for hot afternoons rather than treating it as a slightly warmer version of May at home.
Is May suitable if I do not enjoy strong heat?
It can work with a relaxed schedule, but May is not reliably mild. With 35% of days reaching 30°C, heat-sensitive travellers should be willing to rest at midday and move outdoor plans to the morning rather than expect comfortable walking conditions throughout the day.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London is about 3 h 36 min, making Marrakech a short-haul option for substantially warmer May weather. The journey is relatively short, but the change in daytime temperature still calls for suitable clothing and a manageable pace on arrival.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Marrakesh. 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