Hong Kong Weather in May
While some provinces in Northern China might still be getting occasional snows in May, Hong Kong sees a return to sweltering summer form. The heat, humidity, and rain levels all take off in May. Additionally, May marks the beginning of typhoon season. With almost half of the days in the month seeing rain, the sweltering heat and humidity, and the threat of typhoons, may is one of the less popular months to visit Hong Kong.
Averages for Hong Kong Weather in May
- Average Temperature: 26º Celsius (79º Fahrenheit)
- High Temperature: 29ºC (84ºF)
- Low Temperature: 23ºC (72ºF)
- Average Rainfall: 158 Millimeters
- Rainy Days: 15 days
- Hours of Direct Sunlight: 5
- Humidity: 83%
- Typhoons: Occasional (Typhoon season begins this month)
Is May a good time to visit Hong Kong?
Rain Gear
With 15 days in May bringing rain, you will want a waterproof jacket/long coat, waterproof/resistant shoes, and an umbrella. Rain trousers wouldn’t be a bad idea either. Thanks to the heat, you won’t want to be bringing heavy rain protection either, bring something that is breathable if possible, or at least light.
Hot Weather Clothes
The temperature is pretty steamiy in May, so make sure your wardrobe reflects as much. T-shirts (one for each day), shorts (one for every 2-3 days), and light footwear will be your best friends. Either try to bring clothes that are cotton and will absorb sweat/moisure, or clothes that are made from quick-dry materials so you don’t have to carry around a bag of damp garmets. Expect your clothes to get wet almost every day- from the sweat if not the rain.
Make sure to drink lots of water as well, heat exhaustion and dehydration are real threats in weather that provokes as much sweating as Hong Kong does in May.
Sun Protection
As the heat and rain intensify, so does the sun. Bring some sun lotion, a hat, and sunglasses for the 17 or so non-rainy days in May.
Visiting Hong Kong in May
The good news is, it’s not too busy. Most tourists avoid Hong Kong for various reasons (see above). This means that hotels, transportation, food, and more are cheaper and everything is less crowded. It’s still a good idea to book in advance to save time and money, but it’s much less necessary. During these tourist low-seasons, some of the swankier hotels will have special offers for significantly lower prices than usual.
Be careful. May is not the month for a Junk boat ride or a leisurely hike around Lantau Island. Even if you can stand the steaming humidity, the weather can go from scorching sun to torrential rain in minutes.
Fortunately, typhoons are large and their movements aren’t hard to predict once they form. Stay abreast of the weather situation before you visit Hong Kong. Flights in and out of the city are frequently delayed and rarely even cancelled thanks to the inclement early summer weather.
Holidays and Events in Hong Kong in May
Remember to check before you go, as the lunar calendar ensures different dates for various holidays across the years.
Sometimes Cheung Chau Bun Festival culminates with the bun tower climb in early May. Sometimes Buddha’s Birthday is held in Early May.
Cheung Chau Bun Festival
Date: 9-13, May, 2020
Location: Cheung Chau Island
Another festival with roots in Taoism, and as protection from pirates in olden times, Cheung Chau Bun Festival is a sacrificial ceremony. The sacrifice is buns. In fact, the ceremony culminates with a bun tower climb. Over 60,000 buns are made, piled into a small mountain of bread, or mountain on high bamboo poles, and whoever can snatch a bun from the highest location will receive the best fortune. This activity is also known as bun scrambling.
Buddha’s Birthday
Date: 12, May, 2020
Location: Cidy-Wide
This festival is a bit more laid back than the other April festivals, in-keeping with the zenful nature of the Buddha. Visitors can see many Buddha sculptures get taken out of their temples and cleaned, as well hundreds of traditional spherical Chinese Lanterns adorning the streets and especially the temple complexes throughout the city.