Bahir Dar

Ethiopia Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Ethiopia in May.

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Addis Ababa Bahir Dar Lalībela Gonder

Thinking about venturing to Ethiopia this May and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in Ethiopia in May

The weather in Ethiopia in May can be quite varied, with temperatures that range from pleasant to very warm and precipitation levels ranging from low to heavy.

Temperatures

Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is pleasant in Goba at 19°C (66°F) to very warm in Adama at 31°C (88°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 17°C (63°F) in Adama and 10°C (50°F) in Goba.

For a closer look at conditions across Ethiopia, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From low rainfall in Mekelle with an average of 29 mm (1.1 in) to heavy rainfall in Sanetti Plateau with 364 mm (14 in).

Average sunshine

Several destinations enjoy plenty of sunshine this month. Addis Ababa sees close to 240 hours of sunlight, making it great for sun lovers.

Explore Ethiopia by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Ethiopia — and find the best time to visit. (based on Addis Ababa)

January24°C (75°F) February25°C (77°F) March26°C (79°F) April25°C (77°F) May25°C (77°F) June23°C (73°F) This monthJuly21°C (70°F) August21°C (70°F) September21°C (70°F) October23°C (73°F) November24°C (75°F) December24°C (75°F)
Best Time to Visit Ethiopia →

Best Places to Visit in Ethiopia in May

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Ethiopia.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Ethiopia

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in Ethiopia?

Temperature range in Ethiopia (May)

Precipitation variation in Ethiopia (May)

Addis Ababa

In May Addis Ababa generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 25°C (77°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
23°C (73°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
12°C (54°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly sun hours
213 hours
240 hours
170 hours
Monthly rainfall
142 mm (5.6 in)
170 mm (6.7 in)
268 mm (11 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
11 days
12 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
pleasant
poor
Climate in Addis Ababa →

Bahir Dar

In May Bahir Dar generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 27°C (81°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 18°C (64°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
27°C (81°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
16°C (61°F)
Monthly rainfall
29 mm (1.1 in)
103 mm (4.1 in)
280 mm (11 in)
Monthly rainy days
6 days
8 days
12 days
Weather conditions
perfect
pleasant
poor
Climate in Bahir Dar →

Lalībela

In May Lalībela generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 26°C (79°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
13°C (55°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly rainfall
63 mm (2.5 in)
64 mm (2.5 in)
110 mm (4.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
6 days
9 days
10 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
pleasant
Climate in Lalībela →

Gonder

In May Gonder generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 16°C (61°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
28°C (82°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
16°C (61°F)
16°C (61°F)
14°C (57°F)
Monthly rainfall
40 mm (1.6 in)
115 mm (4.5 in)
297 mm (12 in)
Monthly rainy days
6 days
8 days
11 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
pleasant
poor
Climate in Gonder →

Debre Zeyit

In May Debre Zeyit generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 15°C (59°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
28°C (82°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
15°C (59°F)
15°C (59°F)
14°C (57°F)
Monthly sun hours
213 hours
240 hours
170 hours
Monthly rainfall
61 mm (2.4 in)
72 mm (2.8 in)
122 mm (4.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
10 days
11 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
pleasant
Climate in Debre Zeyit →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Ethiopia.

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Ethiopia in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Addis Ababa 25°C (77°F) 12°C (54°F) 170 mm (6.7 in)
Bahir Dar 27°C (81°F) 18°C (64°F) 103 mm (4.1 in)
Lalībela 26°C (79°F) 13°C (55°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Gonder 28°C (82°F) 16°C (61°F) 115 mm (4.5 in)
Debre Zeyit 28°C (82°F) 15°C (59°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Adama 31°C (88°F) 17°C (63°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)

Ethiopia weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Ethiopia in May?

In May, Ethiopia generally has pleasant weather conditions. Addis Ababa sees daytime temperatures near 25°C (77°F), with nights cooling to roughly 12°C (54°F).

What is the average temperature in Ethiopia in May?

Addis Ababa averages a daytime maximum of 25°C (77°F) in May, with overnight lows close to 12°C (54°F).

Does Ethiopia get a lot of rain in May?

Yes. May brings heavy rainfall to Ethiopia, with Addis Ababa averaging around 170 mm (6.7 in). Expect frequent showers and pack accordingly.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Ethiopia?

Given the typically pleasant weather conditions in Addis Ababa, May might be a good time to visit Ethiopia. It's worth noting that weather conditions might differ depending on the location you visit.

On average, the best time to visit Ethiopia is in January, February, March, October, November and December with generally perfect weather in Addis Ababa. On the other hand, the weather in June, July, August and September tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Ethiopia.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Ethiopia? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Ethiopia.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.

One of the best-kept secrets in East Africa: The Tigray rock churches

In Tigray, Ethiopia you can find more than 120 hidden rock churches. To get to most of these churches you have to hike up into the mountains, where you will find hidden 1600-year-old churches that have been preserved by the monks and priests.

Must visit in Ethiopia →