Your May weather guide
HotWeather in Seychelles in May
May is a good choice for Seychelles if you want reliable warmth and warm-water swimming, but not if dry weather is your priority. Daytime highs average around 28°C, the sea is about 29°C, and there are roughly 18 rainy days. For a UK traveller, the main adjustment is the humid heat, which barely eases after dark. Go with flexible outdoor plans rather than expecting clear skies throughout your stay.
Long-term climate averages for Victoria (Mahe), not a forecast · 1991-2020
Seychelles, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Victoria (Mahe).
- Average daytime high
- 27.9°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 29°C
- Average night-time low
- 26.4°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 26°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +11.3°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sea temperature
- 29.1°C
- year to year: 28°C to 30°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.9h
- 42% of 11.8 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 18
- 127 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 81%
- Days over 25°C
- 100%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 29.5°C
- 1998-05-11
- Record low 1991-2020
- 24.8°C
- 1999-05-31
- Flight from London
- ≈ 10 h 54 min
- 8132 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 3rd warmest month of the year in Seychelles and ranks 37th 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, Seychelles is 11.3°C warmer by day and 18.1°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Seychelles peaks at 27.9°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 28.6°C or more. About 100% of days top 25°C. Nights average 26.4°C; one night in ten drops to 25.5°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 29.5°C (1998-05-11) and the coldest night 24.8°C (1999-05-31).
Rain in May
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 18 days with 1 mm or more, 127 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2019 with 267 mm, the driest 2011 with 6 mm. Humidity averages 81%.
Sea temperature in May
The sea averages 29.1°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 28.3°C to 29.8°C. For the warmest sea here, come in April (29.8°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.9 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.8 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:17 and sets about 18:12 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 58%.
Is May a good time to visit Seychelles?
It is a reasonable choice: hot days but expect showers. The best months for Seychelles on our scoring are July, February, April; months averaging 25°C or more: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.
Hot days, with little relief at night
The temperature is fairly steady, so the catch is persistent warmth rather than extreme daytime peaks. Average highs are 27.9°C and nights only fall to 26.4°C, while humidity averages 81%. That makes light, loose clothing useful throughout the day and evening; a warm layer is unlikely to be your main concern. Air-conditioned accommodation is worth prioritising if warm nights affect your sleep. Keep more active plans away from midday and leave room for shaded breaks. May suits travellers who enjoy heat, but it is less appealing if you rely on cool evenings to recover from a warm day.
Allow for rain rather than planning around clear skies
With about 18 rainy days, May calls for outdoor plans that can move around. Pack a lightweight waterproof and keep belongings protected when heading out. The figures do not tell you how long individual showers last, so neither constant rain nor brief interruptions should be assumed. Sunshine averages about 4.9 hours within 11.8 hours of daylight: there is scope for sunny spells, but a full day of blue sky is not a sensible expectation. If dry weather matters more than sea warmth, May is a compromise. It works better for travellers happy to adjust their swimming and outdoor time to the conditions.
A little perspective
Seychelles 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 | 27.1°C | 25.7°C | 28.3°C | 3.7 | 218 | 22 | 100% |
| Februarybest | 27.6°C | 26.2°C | 28.7°C | 4.3 | 125 | 13 | 100% |
| March | 28.0°C | 26.5°C | 29.3°C | 5.0 | 111 | 16 | 100% |
| Aprilbest | 28.3°C | 26.7°C | 29.8°C | 5.7 | 110 | 17 | 100% |
| MaySelected | 27.9°C | 26.4°C | 29.1°C | 4.9 | 127 | 18 | 100% |
| June | 26.6°C | 25.5°C | 27.4°C | 3.7 | 83 | 14 | 100% |
| Julybest | 25.7°C | 24.7°C | 26.2°C | 3.4 | 51 | 11 | 91% |
| August | 25.7°C | 24.7°C | 26.2°C | 3.7 | 62 | 13 | 92% |
| September | 26.3°C | 25.1°C | 27.0°C | 4.5 | 118 | 16 | 100% |
| October | 26.8°C | 25.5°C | 27.8°C | 5.5 | 123 | 16 | 100% |
| November | 27.0°C | 25.6°C | 28.2°C | 5.6 | 144 | 17 | 100% |
| December | 27.0°C | 25.5°C | 28.3°C | 4.6 | 203 | 23 | 100% |
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.
A little more detail
Seychelles in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Seychelles hot in May?
Seychelles is hot in May: the average daytime high is 27.9°C and nights average 26.4°C. About 100% of May days reach 25°C or more.
Can you swim in the sea in Seychelles in May?
The sea around Seychelles averages 29.1°C in May, which is warm enough for most people to swim comfortably. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 28°C to 30°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Seychelles in May?
Seychelles sees about 18 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 127 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 2019 (267 mm) and the driest was 2011 (6 mm).
How sunny is Seychelles in May?
Seychelles gets around 4.9 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 11.8 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Seychelles compare with the UK in May?
Seychelles 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 Seychelles?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Seychelles reached 29.5°C on 1998-05-11, and the coldest night dropped to 24.8°C on 1999-05-31.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming in May?
Yes. The sea averages 29.1°C, with a year-to-year range of 28°C to 30°C, so cold water is unlikely to put you off. It is comfortably warm for swimming, though temperature alone does not establish safe local swimming conditions.
How much warmer is Seychelles than London in May?
The average daytime high is 27.9°C in Seychelles, compared with 16.6°C in London - a difference of 11.3°C. Expect a clear change from a UK spring, with humid air and warm nights making the heat feel persistent.
Is May's weather worth a long-haul flight?
The flight from London is about 10 h 54 min, so May makes most sense if warmth and swimming are your priorities. If dependable dry days are essential to justify the journey, the frequent rain makes it a less convincing choice.
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 Victoria (Victoria (Mahe)). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2.3 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