How warm is Jamaica in May?

Typical highs are about 87°F and the sea is about 84°F. That is warm enough for long swims without a wetsuit.

Is there sargassum in Jamaica in May?

In a typical year seaweed is high in May. It is usually lightest in February and March and heaviest in September and October. Landings vary a lot by year, wind and currents; Veabird's weekly sargassum report and each beach's page have the current forecast.

Is May hurricane season in Jamaica?

No. Storm risk is very low in May.

How crowded is Jamaica in May?

Typically busy, around Memorial Day weekend. The quietest months are usually September and October.

Jamaica in May

May is a middling month for Jamaica: a typical day grades B-, the 7th best of the 12 months. Expect highs near 87°F, water around 84°F and about a 69% chance of rain on a given day. Sargassum (seaweed) is usually high in May. Beaches are typically busy (Memorial Day weekend).

Typical dayB-7th of 12 months

Highs / water87°FSea 84°F

Rain chance69%on a given day

SeaweedHightypical year

CrowdsBusyMemorial Day weekend

Storm riskVery lowoutside storm season

Jamaica month by month

Typical grade and high for each month. Higher is better: A+ to F.

April: B- · May: B- · June: C+. The best months are usually January, February and March, and the weakest are August and September.

Best beaches in Jamaica in May

Resorts with the best typical May, and their grades for the next few days.

Beach	Typical May	Seaweed	This week
Stones Beach House	A-	Very low	SatCSunC+MonC+TueBWedC+
Breathless Montego Bay Resort & Spa	A-	Very low	SatC-SunCMonC+TueB-WedC+
ROK Hotel Kingston, Tapestry Collection by Hilton	A-	Very low	SatCSunCMonBTueB-WedC+
Bluebird Villa	A-	Low	SatD+SunCMonCTueC+WedC+
Round Hill Hotel & Villas	A-	Low	SatC-SunCMonCTueCWedC
Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort	A-	Low	SatCSunCMonCTueB-WedC+
Toby Resort	A-	Low	SatC-SunCMonCTueB-WedC
El Greco Resort Hotel	A-	Low	SatCSunCMonCTueB-WedC

Grades for the next few days from Veabird's beach forecast, updated Oct 3, 18:00 UTC. Higher is better: A+ to F.

Better beach options in May

Elsewhere in the Caribbean, Cuba's Cays (A-), the Bahamas (A-) and Turks & Caicos (A-) usually grade higher in May. Further afield: Puerto Vallarta (A), Los Cabos (A) and Maui (A). Every destination in May.

Questions

Is May a good time to visit Jamaica?: May is a middling month for Jamaica: a typical day grades B-, the 7th best of the 12 months. Expect highs near 87°F, water around 84°F and about a 69% chance of rain on a given day. Sargassum (seaweed) is usually high in May. Beaches are typically busy (Memorial Day weekend).
How warm is Jamaica in May?: Typical highs are about 87°F and the sea is about 84°F. That is warm enough for long swims without a wetsuit.
Is there sargassum in Jamaica in May?: In a typical year seaweed is high in May. It is usually lightest in February and March and heaviest in September and October. Landings vary a lot by year, wind and currents; Veabird's weekly sargassum report and each beach's page have the current forecast.
Is May hurricane season in Jamaica?: No. Storm risk is very low in May.
How crowded is Jamaica in May?: Typically busy, around Memorial Day weekend. The quietest months are usually September and October.

Plan it

Jamaica: this week's forecast, beach by beach
Caribbean Beach Report: this week, updated every Monday
Compare dates and beaches on the map

Typical-month numbers from Veabird's year-ahead outlook for the 109 resorts here (median resort): 6 years of ERA5 climate normals, the seasonal pattern of the Atlantic sargassum belt, holiday crowd calendars and historical storm tracks. Any given year can differ; check the 16-day forecast before you go.