May rain this week...May 7-9th?

Question

Checked the forecast and saw that it's supposed to rain everyday. It's been years since I've been to Kona and from what I remember, when it rains, it's brief.

in your experience for the residents of Kona, when it rains in May, is there a typical time of day? I was planning on snorkeling every morning but it looks like it will be raining during that time so are afternoons in May usually better?

I can always change the dates of my trip. When I looked at weather history of Kona it looks like the last couple of Mays have been some of the wettest months in Kona. It looks like August and October are the best if you just want to increase the likeliness of being able to snorkel in the morning with good visibility I take it?

Answer

Great question — your instincts are pretty good, and there’s a lot of nuance to Kona’s May weather. Here’s a breakdown based on climate data, local patterns, and some on-the-ground experience.

What the data shows about May rain in Kona:

Kailua-Kona averages about 2.01 inches (≈ 51 mm) of precipitation in May.
The chance of a “wet day” (≥ 1 mm of rain) in May starts around ~22 % at the beginning of the month and drops to ~17 % by the end.
However, in some Kona “coffee belt” or upslope areas (not necessarily right on the shore), May rainfall can be significantly higher. For example, certain rain gauges recorded very elevated totals (e.g., 12+ inches) in past Mays.

When does it typically rain during May in Kona?

Unlike the classic Kona storms (which bring prolonged rain), May is not peak “Kona low” season. Kona lows typically occur in the cooler months (fall through early spring).
Some climate-data sources suggest that in May, rainfall often comes in more intermittent, localized showers — not steady all-day rain.
Local experience (from residents and visitors) also supports that showers tend to come in the afternoon more often than in the early morning. > “It gets cloudy after 10 am … then rain” is a comment from someone staying in Kona.

So, is snorkeling in the morning more likely to be good than in the afternoon?

Yes — based on patterns, mornings in May may indeed be your best bet for relatively clear skies and better snorkel conditions. If rain does roll in, it often builds later in the day.

How typical is it that May is “one of the wettest” months?

Some local rain-gauge data does show very high variability: certain elevated or upslope parts of Kona (or nearby) have seen *exceptionally* wet Mays in specific years.
That said, other data (e.g., airport climate records) suggests May is not the absolute rainiest month, and the daily rain-chance is moderate, not extreme.

Would changing your trip dates help you avoid this risk?

Possibly — here are some trade-offs:

If your main goal is clear morning snorkeling, a slightly drier or more stable month might feel safer.
Months like August often have more stable trade-wind patterns and less rain, but sea conditions, visibility, and currents can vary for snorkeling too.
Alternatively, you could keep your May dates but be flexible: plan your water activities for early in the day, and have backup plans (land or indoor) for afternoons in case rain kicks in.

Bottom line & recommendations:

- Yes, rain in Kona in May is real, but it’s not constant — many showers are brief or develop later in the day.
- Mornings are more reliably good for snorkeling, especially early before afternoon clouds build.
- If you can adjust your trip, timing it for a less “risky” month could reduce your chances of rain interrupting your snorkeling — but even in May, with smart planning, you can likely still get good snorkeling mornings.

May rain this week...May 7-9th?

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