Late spring · Weather & things to do
Petra & Wadi Musa in May
Petra & Wadi Musa warms up: highs climb to 84°F (29°C), from 75°F in April, with lows of 56°F (14°C) and about 0.2 in (4 mm) of rain.
At 92/100 for comfort (5th of 12), it's one of the best months to visit.
- Avg high
- 84°F (29°C)
- Avg low
- 56°F (14°C)
- Rain
- 0.2 in (4 mm)
- Humidity
- 41%
- Cloud cover
- 27%
- Daylight
- ~13 h 32 min
- Comfort score
- 92/100 · Great
What May feels like
Warm afternoons near 84°F (29°C) make long days outdoors easy.
There's a big swing between day and night, about 16°C (28°F), so mornings and evenings feel much cooler than the afternoon.
Rain is scarce: about 0.2 in (4 mm) for the whole month.
Clear skies are common, with cloud cover averaging only 27%.
Plan around May
May is one of Petra & Wadi Musa's best months on the climate data.
- Last of the best-scoring months: by June, the score drops to 78/100.
- The year's biggest warm-up: highs jump 5°C (9°F) from April.
- Comfort slips from 99/100 in April to 92/100.
- May sits inside the Mar – May, Sep – Nov window our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route recommends.
What to pack for May
- Light, breathable clotheshighs average 84°F
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hathigh UV on clear days
- A warm layer for eveningslows near 56°F
- Comfortable walking shoesmost places below are best reached on foot or with short walks
What to do in Petra & Wadi Musa in May
May is good outdoor weather here, so these picks lean toward the open air.
Royal Tombs
Row of grand tombs carved into the cliff, with swirling colored sandstone inside.
Petra by Night
Candle-lit walk through the Siq to the Treasury with Bedouin music, three nights a week.
Why now May scores 92/100 for comfort, good conditions for being outside.
Cave Bar
Bar set inside a 2,000-year-old Nabataean tomb at the Petra Guest House by the gate.
High Place of Sacrifice
Ridge-top Nabataean altar reached by a stepped trail, returning past tombs via Wadi Farasa.
Why now Highs near 84°F and 0.2 in of monthly rain make this an easy outdoor pick.
Petra Kitchen
Evening cooking class where you make and eat a Jordanian mezze and main course.
Nearby in May
- Wadi Rum in May~52 mi · highs 89°F, 0.0 in rain · 3°C (5°F) warmer by day, about as wet
- Dead Sea in May~96 mi · highs 93°F, 0.2 in rain · 5°C (9°F) warmer by day, about as wet
- Amman in May~116 mi · highs 83°F, 0.2 in rain · 1°C (2°F) cooler by day, about as wet
- Cairo & Giza in May~252 mi · highs 94°F, 0.0 in rain · 6°C (10°F) warmer by day, about as wet
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid, temperatures adjusted from the grid cell's ~1,114 m to Petra & Wadi Musa's ~888 m elevation (standard lapse rate). Comfort scores weigh temperature, rain, humidity and cloud: see how we score each month. Check a forecast before you go.
Petra & Wadi Musa in May: quick answers
Is May a good time to visit Petra & Wadi Musa?
Yes. On the climate data it's one of the best months, scoring 92/100. Expect highs of 84°F (29°C) and 0.2 in (4 mm) of rain. May is inside the Mar – May, Sep – Nov window our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route recommends.
How hot is Petra & Wadi Musa in May?
Average highs are 84°F (29°C) and average lows 56°F (14°C), making it the 5th-warmest month by daytime highs.
Does it rain a lot in Petra & Wadi Musa in May?
Not much: about 0.2 in (4 mm) of rain falls across May on average, the 5th-driest month of the year. The annual total is about 6.4 in (163 mm).
What should I pack for Petra & Wadi Musa in May?
Bring light, breathable clothes (highs average 84°F), sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat (high UV on clear days), a warm layer for evenings (lows near 56°F) and comfortable walking shoes (most places below are best reached on foot or with short walks).
More on Petra & Wadi Musa
Routes in season in May
- Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea Mar – May, Sep – Nov
Planning Petra & Wadi Musa in May?
Share this May plan with your group, poll everyone on dates and keep the packing list in one place.