France weather in May
France in May averages 16°C (60°F) and 75 mm of rain.
Of the twelve months in France, May is the fifth warmest and the wettest.
- Average temp
- 16°C (60°F)
11–20°C · 52–68°F
- Rainfall
- 75 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- —
What is France like in May?
Daytime
Days are mild.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for France in May?
A light rain jacket
About 75 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 11°C (52°F).
May compared with April and June
May in France is 3.2°C warmer than April and 30 mm wetter than it, which averages 12°C (54°F).
May in France is 3.2°C cooler than June and 23 mm wetter than it, which averages 19°C (66°F).
Daylight in France in May
On 15 May the sun is up for 15 hours 18 minutes in France, rising about 06:08 and setting about 21:26 local time.
May ends 1 hour 16 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 52 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
France 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 | 5°C / 41°F | 45 mm |
| February | 6°C / 43°F | 38 mm |
| March | 9°C / 49°F | 41 mm |
| April | 12°C / 54°F | 45 mm |
| May | 16°C / 60°F | 75 mm |
| June | 19°C / 66°F | 51 mm |
| July | 21°C / 69°F | 58 mm |
| August | 21°C / 70°F | 54 mm |
| September | 17°C / 63°F | 51 mm |
| October | 13°C / 56°F | 55 mm |
| November | 9°C / 47°F | 54 mm |
| December | 6°C / 43°F | 62 mm |
Similar weather in May
Other destinations whose May averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
This is the month you are reading. Change either side to look at another.
FAQs about France in May
May climate averages for France, 1991–2020.
France averages 16°C (60°F) in May, ranging from about 11°C (52°F) at night to 20°C (68°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 75 mm falls across May, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
No. May averages 16°C (60°F) against 19°C (66°F) in June — 3.2°C cooler.
May is 3.2°C warmer than April, and 30 mm wetter.
Yes. May falls inside the most comfortable stretch of the year here, May to October, on temperature and rainfall together.
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 15 hours 18 minutes of daylight in mid-May, against 16 hours 10 minutes in June and 8 hours 16 minutes in December.
On 15 May, sunrise is about 06:08 and sunset about 21:26 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 1 hour 16 minutes longer than it starts.
