Iraq

Iraq Weather in May

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

Are you planning a trip a to Iraq in May and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in Iraq in May

In May, Iraq experiences a range of weather conditions, with temperatures that range from warm to very hot and precipitation levels ranging from almost none to moderate.

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from warm in As Sulaymānīyah at 28°C (82°F) to very hot in Al Başrah at 42°C (108°F). At night it cools down to 27°C (81°F) in Al Başrah and 14°C (57°F) in As Sulaymānīyah. These night and day temperatures are average and some days may be even warmer. So be prepared and dress for the heat.

To explore the conditions in Iraq in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From almost no rainfall in Karbala with an average of 3.4 mm (0.1 in) to moderate rainfall in As Sulaymānīyah with 36 mm (1.4 in).

Explore Iraq by month

Best Places to Visit in Iraq in May

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

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 Iraq

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

Temperature range in Iraq (May)

Precipitation variation in Iraq (May)

Erbil

In May Erbil generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 33°C (91°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 18°C (64°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
25°C (77°F)
33°C (91°F)
39°C (102°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
18°C (64°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly rainfall
66 mm (2.6 in)
22 mm (0.9 in)
1.4 mm (0.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
5 days
a single day
Weather conditions

Baghdād

In May Baghdād generally has extremely high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 39°C (102°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
33°C (91°F)
39°C (102°F)
44°C (111°F)
Min temperature
19°C (66°F)
25°C (77°F)
29°C (84°F)
Monthly sun hours
258 hours
301 hours
348 hours
Monthly rainfall
16 mm (0.6 in)
5.4 mm (0.2 in)
0.1 mm (0 in)
Monthly rainy days
4 days
2 days
0 days
Weather conditions

As Sulaymānīyah

In May As Sulaymānīyah generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 14°C (57°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
22°C (72°F)
28°C (82°F)
35°C (95°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
14°C (57°F)
19°C (66°F)
Monthly rainfall
100 mm (3.9 in)
36 mm (1.4 in)
1.6 mm (0.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
7 days
a single day
Weather conditions

Karbala

In May Karbala generally has extremely high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 39°C (102°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and almost no monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
32°C (90°F)
39°C (102°F)
43°C (109°F)
Min temperature
19°C (66°F)
25°C (77°F)
29°C (84°F)
Monthly sun hours
258 hours
301 hours
348 hours
Monthly rainfall
12 mm (0.5 in)
3.4 mm (0.1 in)
0.1 mm (0 in)
Monthly rainy days
3 days
a single day
0 days
Weather conditions

Al Başrah

In May Al Başrah generally has extremely high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 42°C (108°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 27°C (81°F) and almost no monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
35°C (95°F)
42°C (108°F)
46°C (115°F)
Min temperature
21°C (70°F)
27°C (81°F)
31°C (88°F)
Monthly rainfall
12 mm (0.5 in)
4.8 mm (0.2 in)
0.3 mm (0.01 in)
Monthly rainy days
4 days
2 days
0 days
Weather conditions

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

Popular cities in May

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Erbil 33°C (91°F) 18°C (64°F) 22 mm (0.9 in)
Baghdād 39°C (102°F) 25°C (77°F) 5.4 mm (0.2 in)
As Sulaymānīyah 28°C (82°F) 14°C (57°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)
Karbala 39°C (102°F) 25°C (77°F) 3.4 mm (0.1 in)
Kirkuk 35°C (95°F) 20°C (68°F) 15 mm (0.6 in)
Ar-Rutbah 33°C (91°F) 19°C (66°F) 4.6 mm (0.2 in)

Iraq weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Iraq in May?

Iraq typically experiences tolerable weather in May, part of the season. Daytime highs in Erbil average around 33°C (91°F), and temperatures drop to about 18°C (64°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Iraq in May?

In Erbil, the average daytime high in May is 33°C (91°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 18°C (64°F).

Does Iraq get a lot of rain in May?

May is on the drier side in Iraq. Erbil averages only about 22 mm (0.9 in), with most days staying dry.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Iraq?

In our opinion, May is a good time to visit Iraq with overall perfect weather in Erbil.

On average, the best time to visit Iraq is in March, April and November with generally perfect weather in Erbil. In contrast, January, June, July, August and September tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Iraq.

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

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.