What is the Weather Like in Fiji in May?
Real Insights from Real Writers
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 guide to the Fiji weather in May below so you know what to expect!
Before we jump into this weather guide for May, be sure to bookmark Fiji Weather, Seasons & Climate + Fiji Weather by Month, as well as The Best Time to Visit Fiji: A Month-by-Month Guide for more advice.
Hot tip: This guide offers genuine tips from travel writers who’ve personally visited Fiji in May, not AI-generated content. For more about our team and expertise, scroll to the bottom of the page.
Table of Contents
Average Weather Data in May for Fiji
5 Tips for Visiting 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,” it could still rain at any time.
- Although the cyclone risk is minimal during May, freak weather has been known to occur in May.
© FijiPocketGuide.comTypical 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. In our experience, May is one of the best times to visit Fiji if you want warm temperatures without too much rain (as later in the year can be a little too cool for some).
The maximum average temperature during May is 28°C / 82°F, and the minimum average temperature is 21°C / 70°F usually at night.
Temperatures in May Across Fiji:
| 📍 Location | 🌡️ Average Max Temperature | 🌡️ Average Min Temperature |
|---|---|---|
| Nadi, Viti Levu | 29°C / 84°F | 19°C / 66°F |
| Suva, Viti Levu | 28°C / 82°F | 21°C / 70°F |
| Mamanuca Islands | 29°C / 84°F | 20°C / 68°F |
| Yasawa Islands | 30°C / 86°F | 20°C / 70°F |
| Labasa, Vanua Levu | 30°C / 88°F | 20°C / 70°F |
| Taveuni | 29°C / 84°F | 23°C / 73°F |
Sea Temperature in May
Although sea temperatures are warm year-round, the sea temperatures in Fiji in May are still at some of the warmest experienced throughout the year at around 27°C / 81°F.
© FijiPocketGuide.comHours 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 11 hours a day, which is a little shorter than during the summer months.
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. Be sure to wear high-factor sunscreen and follow our advice in The Best Sunscreens for Fiji + Sun Protection Tips.
Sunrise and Sunset During May
May brings daylight hours lasting about 11 hours a day.
| 🌅 Time of Day | 🗓️ Start of May | 🗓️ End of May |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise | 6:20 am | 6:30 am |
| Sunset | 5:47 pm | 5:37 pm |
Find out more about the local time in our guide, What is the Fiji Time Zone?
© FijiPocketGuide.comRainfall in May
While generally dry, May is known for experiencing some days of “freak weather” where there can be some heavy downpours. Nevertheless, in our experience, 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 days to be dry and sunny. If you need a rainy day backup, however, check out the ideas in the 10 Things to Do in Fiji on a Rainy Day.
Fiji receives an average of 142 mm / 5.6 in rainfall during May, with around 19 days of rain in the month.
Rainfall in May Across Fiji:
| 📍 Location | 🌧️ Average Rainfall (May) |
|---|---|
| Nadi, Viti Levu | 78 mm / 3.1 in |
| Suva, Viti Levu | 267 mm / 10.5 in |
| Mamanuca Islands | 91 mm / 3.6 in |
| Yasawa Islands | 71 mm / 2.8 in |
| Labasa, Vanua Levu | 114 mm / 4.5 in |
| Taveuni | 174 mm / 6.9 in |
© FijiPocketGuide.comTropical 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 in 1926 and 1927, one of the biggest being Cyclone Gavin and 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.comThe Best Places to Visit in Fiji in May
Thanks to May sitting in the tourist shoulder season and the rainy season coming to an end, we find that 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! Learn more about the island group in the 20 Best Things to Do in the Mamanuca Islands.
Denarau Island – A hugely popular holiday destination in Fiji, Denarau Island is made up of several five-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 discounted. Find out more about what to do there in our 20 Best Things to Do on 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 the 20 Best Things to Do in Vanua Levu.
For a comparison of all of Fiji’s main destinations, check out The Best Islands to Visit in Fiji.
Events in May
Girmit Carnival – The Girmit Carnival is a week-long celebration in Nausori (near Suva) honouring the contributions of Girmititas, Indians who arrived in Fiji in 1879. This festival coincides with Girmit Day.
FIPRA Music Awards – The annual FIPRA Music Awards, organised by the Fiji Performing Rights Association (FPRA), takes place in May in Suva. This event showcases Fijian musical talent across various genres, with artists competing in multiple categories. The awards ceremony features live performances and celebrates the achievements of Fiji’s music industry.
For more events, check out The Top Events & Festivals in Fiji.
© FijiPocketGuide.comMay Packing List for Fiji
When travelling to Fiji in May, there are a few essential items to add to the packing list:
- Light clothing layers (preferably linen, bamboo or merino so it is super light – we like the sustainable bamboo clothing of Moso Morrow)
- Light long-sleeved tops (to cover from sun and mosquitoes)
- Light pants/trousers/skirt (to cover the knees when appropriate – when visiting villages or to protect from mosquitoes when hiking, for example)
- Sunhat
- Sunglasses
- Swimwear
- Rash vest (we like the UV-protecting Sharkskin rashies)
- Closed walking shoes
- Flip-flops/jandals/sandals
- Sarong (sulu – you can always buy one once you arrive in Fiji at The Best Places to Buy Souvenirs)
- Insect repellent
- High-factor sunscreen (that’s reef-safe and water-resistant).
For more inspiration on what to pack, check out our Full Packing List for Fiji!
More About the Weather in Fiji in May
That’s it for our complete guide to the weather and climate in Fiji in May. Check out the following articles for more weather advice:
- Fiji Weather, Seasons & Climate + Fiji Weather by Month
- The Best Time to Visit Fiji: A Month-by-Month Guide
- Fiji Weather in March
- Fiji Weather in June
- Fiji Weather in July
Finally, enjoy a comprehensive guide to planning a trip to Fiji in The Complete Travel Guide to Fiji: Plan a Trip the Easy Way.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across Fiji and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism Fiji (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Immigration (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (Customs and visitor taxes - Updated [2025])
- Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Bureau of Statistics (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2025])
- Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (Tourism statistics - Updated [2025])
- Land Transport Authority (Road safety advice - Updated [2025])
- Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
- Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
- Travel.State.Gov (U.S. travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
- SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
Our editorial standards: At Fiji Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
