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SunnyDays

ERA5 almanac — 8 years of real data

Nassau in May

Nassau in May: 57% of days see measurable rain, 83°F average high, 20% of days historically clear (n=248, ERA5 2018–2025).

Nassau in May is historically a poor month for sun: only 20% of days clear across 8 years (n=248, avg high 83°F). March is the clearest month for Nassau historically. Historical average, not a forecast.

What you are reading: 8-year historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis, not a forecast. A month that is historically 90% clear can still be overcast on your specific trip. For this week’s actual forecast, see the live Nassau page. Both can be true at once: “historically strong in this month; this particular week is not.” We label which is which.

Early vs. Late May

Clear-sky percentage for Nassau in May, split by half-month. “n” is the number of days sampled across 8 years (2018–2025).
Period % Clear days Sample (n) Avg high
Early May
1st–15th		 23% n=120 83°F
Late May
16th–end		 18% n=128 83°F
Full month average 20% n=248 83°F

Sunshine & warmth in May

A second measure using actual sunshine hours (ERA5 sunshine_duration), not the daily weather code. A Lowcountry day with 12 hours of sun and a 25-minute afternoon storm is counted below as a warm, sunny day — because it was. How we define this.

Sunshine-based metrics for Nassau in May. Primary: % of days ≥ 72°F with > 6 h of sunshine.
Period Warm & sunny (≥72°F, >6 h sun) Sample (n)
Early May
1st–15th		 95% n=120
Late May
16th–end		 88% n=128
Full month average 91% n=248
12.4 h median sunshine per day 87% of days exceed 8 h sunshine 57% of days see ≥ 1 mm rain — rain is not hidden
Comparison (old vs new): WMO-code “clear” bar: 20%. Sunshine-based “warm & sunny”: 91%. The 71-point gap is from brief afternoon convective storms that stamp the whole day as “rain” in the WMO code but leave the bulk of the sunshine untouched.

Bottom line

Nassau is mostly overcast in May historically: only 20% of days are clear across 8 years (n=248), avg high 83°F. If you want sun in Nassau, March is historically much better. Most visitors this month will see more clouds than sun.

→ See all destinations in March — historically the best month for sun in Nassau.

Every month in Nassau

Compare across all months with data. Numbers are historical clear-sky %.

Historical clear-sky % for Nassau, all months, ERA5 2018–2025.
Month % Clear Sample (n)
January 32% n=248 All destinations →
February 34% n=226 All destinations →
March 40% n=248 All destinations →
April 30% n=240 All destinations →
May ← this page 20% n=248 All destinations →
June 6% n=240 All destinations →
July 6% n=248 All destinations →
August 8% n=248 All destinations →
September 6% n=240 All destinations →
October 14% n=248 All destinations →
November 28% n=240 All destinations →
December 33% n=248 All destinations →

Frequently asked

Does it rain in Nassau in May?

Yes, frequently. In Nassau, 57% of days in May see measurable rain, based on 8 years of ERA5 historical data (n=248 days, 2018–2025). This is a historical average, not a forecast.

Is Nassau good for sun in May?

Not usually. Nassau is historically overcast in May: only 20% of days are clear (avg high 83°F, n=248 days, ERA5 2018–2025). March is historically far better for sun here.

How Nassau compares in May

Head-to-head clear-sky comparisons against destinations travelers plausibly weigh against Nassau this month — same passport tier, similar flight distance, both sides from the same 8-year ERA5 record.

All percentages are historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 8 full years (2018–2025). “Clear” means avg high ≥ 72 °F, precipitation < 1 mm, and a non-precipitation weather code. This is history, not a forecast. The live 7-day outlook for any destination is on its own page and may differ from the long-run average. Data from Open-Meteo.