Helsinki weather in May
Helsinki in May averages 10°C (51°F), 41 mm of rain and 8.8 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Helsinki, May is the fifth warmest, the fourth driest and the third sunniest.
- Average temp
- 10°C (51°F)
6–15°C · 43–58°F
- Rainfall
- 41 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- 8.8 h
hours per day
What is Helsinki like in May?
Daytime
Days are cool.
Rain
Rain is usually light.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Helsinki in May?
High-factor sun cream
With 8.8 hours of sun a day, burn time is short even in shade.
Sunglasses and a brimmed hat
Midday glare is the part people underpack for, not the heat itself.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 6°C (43°F).
May compared with April and June
May in Helsinki is 5.8°C warmer than April and 10 mm wetter than it, which averages 5°C (40°F).
May in Helsinki is 4.6°C cooler than June and 15 mm drier than it, which averages 15°C (59°F).
Daylight in Helsinki in May
On 15 May the sun is up for 17 hours 14 minutes in Helsinki, rising about 04:40 and setting about 21:54 local time.
May ends 2 hours 16 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 1 hour 39 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in Helsinki
Dates are a starting point for May.
Travel guides for Helsinki
What to read before you book.
Helsinki weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How May compares with the rest of the year
May is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | -3°C / 26°F | 54 mm |
| February | -4°C / 25°F | 38 mm |
| March | -1°C / 31°F | 35 mm |
| April | 5°C / 40°F | 32 mm |
| May | 10°C / 51°F | 41 mm |
| June | 15°C / 59°F | 56 mm |
| July | 18°C / 65°F | 58 mm |
| August | 17°C / 63°F | 84 mm |
| September | 12°C / 54°F | 55 mm |
| October | 7°C / 44°F | 75 mm |
| November | 2°C / 36°F | 70 mm |
| December | -1°C / 30°F | 59 mm |
Similar weather in May
Other destinations whose May averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
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FAQs about Helsinki in May
May climate averages for Helsinki, 1991–2020.
Helsinki averages 10°C (51°F) in May, ranging from about 6°C (43°F) at night to 15°C (58°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Barely. May sees only about 41 mm, so rain is unlikely to affect your plans.
No. May averages 10°C (51°F) against 15°C (59°F) in June — 4.6°C cooler.
May is 5.8°C warmer than April, and about as wet.
Yes. May falls inside the most comfortable stretch of the year here, May to October, on temperature and rainfall together.
About 8.8 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average — among the brighter months anywhere.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what May is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 17 hours 14 minutes of daylight in mid-May, against 18 hours 53 minutes in June and 5 hours 52 minutes in December.
On 15 May, sunrise is about 04:40 and sunset about 21:54 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 2 hours 16 minutes longer than it starts.
