What May feels like in Dakhla
Dakhla in May is mild, with daytime temperatures around 24.7 °C and nights near 17.2 °C. Relative humidity averages 74%, and the wind blows across the peninsula for most of the daylight hours, which makes the air feel two to four degrees cooler than the thermometer suggests.
Expect roughly 11.9 hours of sunshine per day out of 13.3 hours of daylight. Cloud in Dakhla is usually low marine stratus in the early morning rather than the thick overcast you would associate with rain.
Wind and kitesurfing in May
Peak wind season. The average daily maximum wind speed in May is 32 km/h — about 17 knots — with gusts averaging 51 km/h. The north-east trade wind follows the same daily rhythm all year: light in the morning, building from late morning as the Sahara heats up, and peaking between the early and late afternoon.
For most riders this means an 8–10 m kite covers the majority of afternoons, with a 7 m for the strongest days.
Sea temperature and the water in May
The Atlantic off Dakhla averages 19.1 °C in May. Cool — 3/2 mm wetsuit. The cold Canary Current keeps the water well below what the latitude would suggest, while the shallow lagoon warms faster than the open ocean and can feel noticeably milder at low tide on a sunny afternoon.
Rain, fog and visibility
May records about 2.6 mm of rain across roughly 0.5 wet days. Rain gear is not something to plan around here. What does affect visibility is fog: warm air moving over cold water condenses, especially in the early morning, and usually clears between 10:00 and midday.
Crowds and prices in May
Busy — book camps and flights early. Dakhla's high season follows the wind rather than the sun, so the busiest and most expensive months are the windiest ones, not the warmest.
What to pack for May
- Wetsuit: Cool — 3/2 mm wetsuit.
- Light long-sleeve layers — they block the sun and the wind at the same time.
- A warm mid-layer for evenings: nights drop to around 17.2 °C and the breeze makes it feel cooler.
- SPF 50 sunscreen, sunglasses and a buff for blowing sand.