French Guiana

French Guiana Weather in May

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

Planning a trip to French Guiana this May? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in French Guiana in May

May in French Guiana generally has warm temperatures, with heavy precipitation.

Temperatures

You can expect warm maximum daytime temperatures of around 29°C (84°F) and nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) in Kourou. These night and day temperatures are average and some days may be even warmer. So be prepared and dress for the heat.

For specific regional insights in French Guiana, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From heavy rainfall in Maripasoula with an average of 288 mm (11 in) to heavy rainfall in Cayenne with 412 mm (16 in). Looking at the climate data spanning the last 30 years, this month sees the heaviest rainfall of the year in Kourou.

Average sunshine

Sunshine is fairly consistent across many areas. Kourou receives about 119 hours of sunlight in May, providing a good balance between sunny spells and cloud cover. If you're after more sunshine hours, take a look at our weather planner for other sun-rich destinations worldwide.

Explore French Guiana by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in French Guiana — and find the best time to visit. (based on Cayenne)

Best Places to Visit in French Guiana in May

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

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 French Guiana

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

Temperature range in French Guiana (May)

Precipitation variation in French Guiana (May)

Kourou

In May Kourou generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly sun hours
119 hours
119 hours
149 hours
Monthly rainfall
263 mm (10 in)
406 mm (16 in)
374 mm (15 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
26 days
23 days
Weather conditions

Matoury

In May Matoury generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly sun hours
122 hours
122 hours
155 hours
Monthly rainfall
278 mm (11 in)
409 mm (16 in)
368 mm (14 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
26 days
23 days
Weather conditions

Cayenne

In May Cayenne generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly sun hours
122 hours
122 hours
155 hours
Monthly rainfall
275 mm (11 in)
403 mm (16 in)
365 mm (14 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
26 days
23 days
Weather conditions

Maripasoula

In May Maripasoula generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 23°C (73°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
22°C (72°F)
Monthly sun hours
156 hours
153 hours
166 hours
Monthly rainfall
225 mm (8.9 in)
288 mm (11 in)
207 mm (8.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
26 days
23 days
Weather conditions

Saint Georges

In May Saint Georges generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 23°C (73°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly sun hours
118 hours
111 hours
146 hours
Monthly rainfall
278 mm (11 in)
377 mm (15 in)
294 mm (12 in)
Monthly rainy days
23 days
26 days
23 days
Weather conditions

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

In our records: French Guiana May extremes

Notable May records observed across cities in French Guiana in our climate database (1991 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • Based on our data, the coldest May night in French Guiana dropped to 15°C (59°F) in Cayenne on May 26, 2019.

Popular cities in May

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Cayenne 30°C (86°F) 24°C (75°F) 412 mm (16 in)
Kourou 29°C (84°F) 25°C (77°F) 406 mm (16 in)
Matoury 30°C (86°F) 24°C (75°F) 409 mm (16 in)
Cayenne 30°C (86°F) 24°C (75°F) 403 mm (16 in)
Saint Georges 30°C (86°F) 23°C (73°F) 377 mm (15 in)
Maripasoula 31°C (88°F) 23°C (73°F) 288 mm (11 in)

French Guiana weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in French Guiana in May?

French Guiana typically experiences poor weather in May, part of the season. Daytime highs in Kourou average around 29°C (84°F), and temperatures drop to about 25°C (77°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in French Guiana in May?

Daytime temperatures in Kourou peak at roughly 29°C (84°F) in May, dropping to about 25°C (77°F) overnight.

Does French Guiana get a lot of rain in May?

Expect plenty of rainfall. Kourou records an average of 406 mm (16 in) in May, putting it among the wetter months for French Guiana.

Is May a Good Time to Visit French Guiana?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Kourou, May may not be the ideal time to visit French Guiana.

On average, the best time to visit French Guiana is in March, September and October with generally tolerable weather in Kourou. On the other hand, the weather in April, May, June, July and December tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in French Guiana.

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

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.

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