Temperatures in May
It's hot in May in California with an average temperature of 35°C. Temperatures this month range from a low of 33°C to a high of 37°C. At night, you can expect temperatures between 24°C and 26°C.
Max and Min Temperatures per Day
This chart shows the daily maximum and minimum temperatures in degrees Celsius for California in May. The red line indicates the max temperatures, and the blue line shows the minimums.
Start of May
The month of May starts in California with hot temperatures, averaging around 36°C during the day and nights close to 25°C. You can expect regular precipitation, but there’s also a chance for some sunny days in the first days of the month. Breezy clothes like shorts or a dress, plus a hat and sunglasses, are ideal.
Mid-May
By mid-May, the average daytime temperature rises to around 37°C, with nights close to 26°C. The chance of precipitation is high during this period. Breezy clothes like shorts or a dress, plus a hat and sunglasses, are ideal.
End of May
By the end of May, the average daytime temperature in California will be around 35°C, with nights close to 25°C. There’s a significant chance of many days with precipitation. Breezy clothes like shorts or a dress, plus a hat and sunglasses, are ideal.
Precipitation in May
In May, there is an average of 211 mm of precipitation, spread over 20 days. The wind speed is around 3 Bft, mostly coming from the South.
The average precipitation chance this month is 64% per day. Though that seems frequent, the weather’s variable. There are also a few days with lower precipitation chances.
Precipitation Chance
This chart shows the daily precipitation chance (in percentages) in May for California. 0% means it never rained on that day in the past 10 years, and 100% means it rained every day. All values in between represent the average chance of precipitation on that day.
California in May |
London | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 Average Temperature |
35°C | 18°C | |
 High Temp |
37°C | 21°C | |
| Low Temp |
33°C | 15°C | |
 Total Precipitation |
211 mm | 46 mm | |
| Rainy Days |
20 days | 8 days | |
April
UV index
The UV index is a maximum of 9 this month. That's a very high value on the intensity scale of 1 to 11. Unprotected skin can burn within 10-15 minutes.
Is May a good time to visit California?
After some sun? Then May isn’t the best time to be in California. The temperature is pleasant, but there’s too much chance of rain this month.
The hurricane season in California runs from June to November.
Temperature records for California in May
With 41°C, California hit the highest temperature in the last 10 years in May 2020. The lowest daytime temperature in this month was 25°C in 2020. The extreme night temperatures ranged from a low of 20°C to a high of 29°C.
Check out the climate of California for all months and discover the best travel time
Daily Temperature in May in California
This chart shows the average daily temperatures, both day and night, for each day in May in California, measured in degrees Celsius. The red line represents the maximum temperatures, while the blue line shows the minimums. The days of the month are displayed at the bottom of the chart. The data, based on historical observations, gives an overview of the average daily temperatures during this month.
Daily Precipitation in May in California
The chart below shows the average daily precipitation in May for California, measured in millimetres over the past years. Precipitation is always measured as water, even if it’s snow or hail. The days of the month are shown at the bottom of the chart.
A low average precipitation means that the chance of rain on that day is usually small, while a higher average suggests that rain is more likely. But it’s still an average, so each day can be different. Based on historical weather data for May, you can expect around 20 days of rain in California.
Daily UV Index in May in California
This chart shows the average daily UV index in May in California, with the UV index ranging from 0 to a maximum of 11. The bottom of the chart shows the days of the month. Based on historical data, this chart provides an idea of the daily UV radiation levels you can expect.
Temperature in May in California Over the Years
This chart shows the average temperature in May in California, measured in degrees Celsius, over the past years.
Total Precipitation in May in California Over the Years
This chart shows the average precipitation in May in California, measured in millimetres over the past years. Precipitation is always measured as water, even if it’s snow or hail.
Daily climate in May for California
Click on a specific day in May for detailed info on the typical weather on that day in California. Check out the historical temperatures and precipitation over the past 10 years on this day.
Weather experiences in May in California
Have you been to California in May?
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Average Weather in California by Month
Click on a month below to see detailed weather info for California. Based on historical weather data, you can see the average temperature, precipitation, wind, and UV index for each day of the month.
Or check out the climate of California for all months at once
