Rio de Janeiro weather in May
Rio de Janeiro averages 26°C by day and 20°C at night in May, with the sea at 24°C and about 59 mm of rain in the month. That is about 2°C cooler than April.
Day
26°C
Night
20°C
Sea
24°C
Rain
59 mm
Flight from London
11½h
What May feels like
May is hot in Rio de Janeiro: proper beach weather.
The sea is warm at 24°C: comfortable for long swims.
Rain is occasional: about 59 mm in the month.
That is 8°C warmer than an average May day in London.
Of the 56 sun destinations we track, Rio de Janeiro is the #37 warmest in May.
Want it warmer in May?
These are hotter than Rio de Janeiro this month for at most an hour and a half more flying:
Rio de Janeiro weather by month
May is highlighted. Compare with April and June, or see the full year in Rio de Janeiro.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°C | 24°C | 26°C | 154 mm |
| February | 30°C | 24°C | 28°C | 126 mm |
| March | 29°C | 24°C | 26°C | 133 mm |
| April | 27°C | 22°C | 25°C | 86 mm |
| May | 26°C | 20°C | 24°C | 59 mm |
| June | 25°C | 19°C | 23°C | 38 mm |
| July | 25°C | 18°C | 22°C | 40 mm |
| August | 25°C | 18°C | 22°C | 63 mm |
| September | 26°C | 20°C | 23°C | 59 mm |
| October | 27°C | 21°C | 22°C | 89 mm |
| November | 27°C | 21°C | 23°C | 130 mm |
| December | 29°C | 23°C | 25°C | 132 mm |
Rio de Janeiro in May: quick answers
Is Rio de Janeiro hot in May?
May is hot in Rio de Janeiro: proper beach weather. Average highs are 26°C and lows 20°C.
Can you swim in Rio de Janeiro in May?
The sea is warm at 24°C: comfortable for long swims.
Does it rain in Rio de Janeiro in May?
Rain is occasional: about 59 mm in the month.
What is the warmest month in Rio de Janeiro?
February, at an average high of 30°C. The coolest is July at 25°C.
How long is the flight to Rio de Janeiro from the UK?
About 11½h direct from London, estimated from the 9,260 km distance. Check your airline for exact times.
Still choosing? See where is hot in May for every destination ranked by temperature, sea and flight time.
How we measured this
Averages of every day in May from 2016 to 2025, from the Open-Meteo historical weather archive (ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis). Sea temperature is the 2023 to 2025 average from the Open-Meteo marine archive. Rain is the average monthly total. Reanalysis describes an area about 25 km across, so sheltered resorts can run a degree or two warmer. Flight time is a distance-based estimate from London Heathrow.
Planning Rio de Janeiro in May?
Save the restaurants, beaches and views you find on TikTok and Instagram for Rio de Janeiro straight to a map, then let Dream Trip turn them into a day-by-day plan.
