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Dominica Weather in May: Rain, Temperatures

Dominica weather in May
Average high temperature and rainfall for Dominica in May. © 2023 Scott S. Bateman

Dominica weather in May brings warmer weather and a lot more rain than April.

This eastern Caribbean island, one of the wettest in the Caribbean, has heavy rainfall all year long. It’s just that some months have less rain than others. May isn’t one of those months.

Then why do eastern Caribbean cruises go to Dominica? They go because the island is conveniently located between Antigua and St. Lucia. The rain also makes Dominica a lush ecotourism destination with shore excursions to rivers, rainforests and waterfalls.

Average Dominica Temperatures in May

The average high temperature for Dominica in May is 85 degrees Fahrenheit or 29 Celsius, the Dominica Meteorological Service says. The average low temperature, which is mostly at night, is 75 degrees Fahrenheit or nearly 24 Celsius.

Temperatures on the shores are consistently warm throughout the year. They are usually somewhat cooler in the damp, interior rainforests.

By comparison, daytime temperatures reach a low point of 82 degrees Fahrenheit in January. They hit a high point of about 87 Fahrenheit in the summer months.

Average Rainfall in May

Although Dominica is already a wet island, it has a brief rainy season in May when rainfall jumps to an average of nearly nine inches, according to historical data from the Dominica Meteorological Service. That compares to only five in April.

May is a brief rainy season for many Caribbean islands, but they are likely to go from two to three inches in April to three to four inches in May. Dominica is rainier than nearly every major destination. May is a bad time to visit the island.

But nine inches isn’t nearly as bad as the island’s main rainy season and the annual Caribbean hurricane season. During the peak times, Dominica averages 12 inches of rain in September and nearly 15 in October and November.

• Dominica weather in January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December

Should We Go in May?

Most people visit Dominica by cruise ship, so whether they go in May depends in part on how many cruise ships visit the island.

As a result of the heavy rains, cruise lines are less likely to visit Dominica in May. But anyone who wants to visit Dominica should plan on going from February through April during the “dry” season.

Even then, there is a higher risk of rain than most Caribbean islands. But for Dominica, the risk is much lower than usual.

Scott S. Bateman is a professional journalist who has traveled widely throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. He is the author of four books about cruising in the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexican Riviera.
April 28, 2023

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