What is the Weather Like in Fiji in May?
Hot sunny days, cool and comfortable nights, sharing the poolside with fewer tourists… May is often considered one of the best months to visit Fiji. May marks the start of the dry season, yet still holds the hot temperatures from Fiji’s summer, making the perfect combination for a tropical holiday. May is also a great time to start Fiji’s famous activities again, such as surfing and scuba diving. Most importantly, sea temperatures and sunny weather make it ideal for days at the beach! Although you won’t need to worry much about the weather, take a look at the Fiji weather in May guide below so you know what to expect!
5 Tips for Travelling Fiji in May
- May is considered one of the shoulder seasons in Fiji, where tourist demand will be lower so prices will be cheaper. Look out for deals and don’t worry about booking too far in advance.
- Be sure to apply high-factor sunscreen at regular intervals due to the high UV levels during May.
- May is the start of the surfing and scuba diving season again, with better water visibility and fun waves.
- While May is during the “dry season” know that it could still rain at any time.
- Although the cyclone risk is minimal during May, freak weather has been known to occur in May.
© PxhereTypical Temperatures in May
As Fiji transitions from summer to winter, May is still typically hot and fairly humid throughout the day but can reduce to a more comfortable temperature at night.
The maximum average temperature during May is 31°C / 89°F and the minimum average temperature is 19°C / 66°F usually at night.
Temperatures in Nadi and Suva
- Nadi: average max temperature – 29.8°C / 85.6°F, average minimum temperature – 20.1°C / 68.2°F
- Suva: average max temperature – 28.3°C / 82.9°F, average minimum temperature – 21.9°C / 71.4°F
Sea Temperature in May
Although sea temperatures are warm year-round, the sea temperatures in May are still at some of the warmest experienced throughout the year at around 27°C / 81°F.
© PxhereHours of Sun in May
May receives plenty of sunshine hours each year so you can make the most of soaking up the sun in Fiji! Fiji in May gets an average of 6 hours of bright sunshine each day. Daylight hours average at 11 daylight hours a day.
UV Levels During May
Although the UV levels are not as extreme as what is experienced in the previous months of the year, they can still reach 8 UV index during midday during May. It’s recommended to apply sunscreen and protect yourself from the sun in May.
Sunrise and Sunset During May
May brings daylight hours lasting about 11 hours a day.
- Sunrise: 6:20am at the beginning of May and 6:30am at the end of May
- Sunset: 5:47pm at the beginning of May and 5:37pm at the end of May.
© PxhereRainfall in May
While generally dry, May is known for experiencing some days of “freak weather” where there can be some heavy downpours. Nevertheless, rainfall in May is nothing like what is experienced in the wet season, which lasts from November to April, so you can plan your holiday expecting most (if not all) days to be dry and sunny.
Fiji receives an average of 157mm / 6.1″ of rainfall during May with around 8 days in the month experiencing rain.
Rainfall in Nadi and Suva
- Nadi: average rainfall in May – 78mm / 3.1″ and average rain days – 7
- Suva: average rainfall in May – 267mm / 10.5″ and average rain days – 20
© PxhereTropical Storms in May
The South Pacific cyclone season starts in November and ends in April. This means that it is highly unlikely that a tropical storm will affect Fiji in May. However, this doesn’t mean that there is no chance of a tropical storm occurring.
Historically, tropical storms have affected Fiji during May, one of the biggest being Cyclone June in 1997 and Cyclone Ella in 2017.
While your chances of experiencing a tropical cyclone in Fiji during May are very slim if you want to reduce the risk further, consider travelling to Fiji between June and September.
For more information, check out How to Prepare for a Cyclone in Fiji.
© FijiPocketGuide.comBest Places to Visit in May
Thanks to May sitting in the tourist shoulder season and the rainy season coming to an end, just about anywhere in Fiji would make an excellent holiday destination. However, if you need further inspiration on where to go in May, here are some ideas…
Mamanuca Islands – May marks the beginning of the surfing season once again and a great way to celebrate is by checking out the Fiji Pro surf event in the Mamanuca Islands. You can also try surfing for yourself from beach breaks for beginners to giant reef breaks for the pros! Find out more in our 10 Best Places to Surf in Fiji.
Denarau Island – A hugely popular holiday destination in Fiji, Denarau Island is made up of several 5-star resorts and its own marina town. One of the best times to experience this tourist paradise is during May when it’s a bit less crowded and rooms are likely to be on discount. Find out more about what to do there in our 12 Amazing Things to Do in Denarau Island.
Vanua Levu – With the waters starting to calm and water visibility improving throughout May, visiting the scuba diving mecca of Vanua Levu is a great way to go! Dive in the tropical waters of Namena Marine Reserve or Rainbow Reef, which is home to almost every type of marine species found in Fiji’s waters. Find out more in our Guide to Vanua Levu.
© pxhereMay Packing List for Fiji
When travelling to Fiji in May, there are a few essential items to add to the packing list:
- High-factor sunscreen
- Light cotton layers
- Light long-sleeved tops (to cover from the sun and take the edge off those slightly cooler nights)
- Light pants/trousers
- Sunhat
- Sunglasses
- Swimwear
- Flip-flops or sandals
- Sarong (especially when leaving a resort)
- Rain jacket (just in case)
For more inspiration on what to pack, check out our Packing List for Fiji.
More About Fiji Weather in May
- 30 Tips for Travelling in Fiji
- What Does Fiji Time Mean? (& What You Need to Know About It)
- Fiji Weather in June
That’s it for the guide to the Fiji weather in May. If weather affects your decision on when to come to Fiji, you might also like to check out The Best Time to Visit Fiji.
