Your May weather guide
HotWeather in Sousse in May
May is a good time to visit Sousse if you want warm days without making sea swimming the main reason for going. Daytime highs average 27°C, while nights fall to around 15°C, so light clothes need a warmer layer alongside them. The catch is the sea: at about 19°C, it is bracing rather than comfortably warm. This month suits travellers who enjoy sunshine but are happy to keep swims short.
Long-term climate averages for Sousse, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Sousse, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Sousse.
- Average daytime high
- 27.2°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 32°C
- Average night-time low
- 15.2°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 12°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +10.6°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sea temperature
- 18.8°C
- year to year: 18°C to 20°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 9.0h
- 65% of 13.9 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 3
- 15 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 60%
- Days over 25°C
- 72%
- 21% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 42.9°C
- 2006-05-22
- Record low 1991-2020
- 9.1°C
- 1992-05-03
- Flight from London
- ≈ 3 h 6 min
- 1910 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 Sousse and ranks 43rd of 134 destinations we compare for May - see where else is hot in May. Within Tunisia it is 1st of 3 (Tunisia in May). Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Sousse is 10.6°C warmer by day and 6.9°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Sousse peaks at 27.2°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 32.2°C or more. About 72% of days top 25°C and 1 in 5 pass 30°C. Nights average 15.2°C; one night in ten drops to 12.2°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 42.9°C (2006-05-22) and the coldest night 9.1°C (1992-05-03).
Rain in May
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 3 days with 1 mm or more, 15 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2011 with 41 mm, the driest 1995 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 60%.
Sea temperature in May
The sea averages 18.8°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 18.2°C to 19.6°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.9°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 9.0 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 13.9 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 05:12 and sets about 19:16 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 35%.
Is May a good time to visit Sousse?
Yes - it is one of the better months: hot days, manageable rain and long sunny days. The best months for Sousse on our scoring are June, May, September; months averaging 25°C or more: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
Warm days, with some hotter spells
Plan for proper warmth rather than mild spring weather. Days reach 25°C on 72% of occasions, while 21% reach 30°C, so May can feel hot around midday. On the warmest days, temperatures reach 32°C or more; loose clothing, sun protection and a break in the shade make sense. Keep longer walks for the morning or later afternoon if heat bothers you. Evenings need a different approach: the average night low is 15°C, and the coldest nights fall to 12°C or below. Pack a jumper or light jacket rather than assuming daytime warmth will last after dark. May suits you best if you are comfortable adapting your plans to the heat.
Plenty of sunshine, but a bracing sea
With about 9 hours of sunshine a day, May gives you plenty of scope for spending time outdoors. Rain is a consideration rather than the main drawback: there are about 3 rainy days, so leave room to rearrange outdoor plans rather than expecting every day to stay dry. Sea temperature is the more important limit for a swimming holiday. It averages 18.8°C, with a year-to-year range of 18°C to 20°C, which is bracing even when the air feels hot. If you dislike cool water, think of this as a month for time by the sea rather than long swims. A warm afternoon does not mean warm water.
A little perspective
Sousse 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 | 16.7°C | 7.6°C | 15.8°C | 5.6 | 33 | 5 | 0% |
| February | 17.4°C | 7.7°C | 14.6°C | 6.3 | 27 | 5 | 3% |
| March | 20.2°C | 9.6°C | 14.8°C | 7.0 | 42 | 6 | 11% |
| April | 23.1°C | 11.9°C | 16.1°C | 7.7 | 25 | 5 | 27% |
| MaySelectedbest | 27.2°C | 15.2°C | 18.8°C | 9.0 | 15 | 3 | 72% |
| Junebest | 31.5°C | 18.9°C | 22.3°C | 11.2 | 6 | 2 | 97% |
| July | 34.6°C | 21.7°C | 25.4°C | 12.9 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| August | 34.8°C | 22.5°C | 26.9°C | 11.5 | 9 | 2 | 100% |
| Septemberbest | 30.6°C | 20.7°C | 26.1°C | 8.0 | 48 | 5 | 95% |
| October | 26.5°C | 17.3°C | 23.9°C | 6.4 | 50 | 7 | 65% |
| November | 21.5°C | 12.7°C | 21.1°C | 5.8 | 34 | 6 | 13% |
| December | 17.7°C | 9.0°C | 18.0°C | 5.5 | 34 | 6 | 1% |
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
Sousse in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Sousse hot in May?
Sousse is hot in May: the average daytime high is 27.2°C and nights average 15.2°C. About 72% of May days reach 25°C or more.
Can you swim in the sea in Sousse in May?
The sea around Sousse averages 18.8°C in May, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 18°C to 20°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Sousse in May?
Sousse sees about 3 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 15 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 2011 (41 mm) and the driest was 1995 (0 mm).
How sunny is Sousse in May?
Sousse gets around 9.0 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 13.9 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Sousse compare with the UK in May?
Sousse is on average 10.6°C warmer than London by day in May (27.2°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Sousse?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Sousse reached 42.9°C on 2006-05-22, and the coldest night dropped to 9.1°C on 1992-05-03.
How much warmer is Sousse than London in May?
Sousse has an average daytime high of 27.2°C, compared with 16.6°C in London - a difference of 10.6°C. That is a substantial step up in warmth, so pack for hot afternoons while keeping a layer for cooler evenings.
Is May suitable for a holiday focused on swimming?
May is less suitable if comfortable sea swimming is your priority. The sea averages 18.8°C, below the 22°C threshold for warmer swimming conditions. It can suit travellers who tolerate bracing water, but short dips are a better expectation than lingering swims.
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 Sousse. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 1.1 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