Edinburgh weather in May
Edinburgh in May averages 10°C (50°F), 49 mm of rain and 6.3 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Edinburgh, May is the fifth warmest, the fourth driest and the sunniest.
- Average temp
- 10°C (50°F)
6–14°C · 43–58°F
- Rainfall
- 49 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- 6.3 h
hours per day
What is Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh in May?
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 6°C (43°F).
May compared with April and June
May in Edinburgh is 2.3°C warmer than April and about as wet as it, which averages 8°C (46°F).
May in Edinburgh is 2.9°C cooler than June and 13 mm drier than it, which averages 13°C (55°F).
Daylight in Edinburgh in May
On 15 May the sun is up for 16 hours 21 minutes in Edinburgh, rising about 04:59 and setting about 21:20 local time.
May ends 1 hour 46 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 14 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in Edinburgh
Dates are a starting point for May.
Travel guides for Edinburgh
What to read before you book.
Edinburgh 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 | 4°C / 39°F | 62 mm |
| February | 4°C / 40°F | 47 mm |
| March | 6°C / 42°F | 47 mm |
| April | 8°C / 46°F | 43 mm |
| May | 10°C / 50°F | 49 mm |
| June | 13°C / 55°F | 63 mm |
| July | 15°C / 59°F | 65 mm |
| August | 15°C / 59°F | 69 mm |
| September | 13°C / 55°F | 55 mm |
| October | 10°C / 49°F | 80 mm |
| November | 6°C / 44°F | 68 mm |
| December | 4°C / 39°F | 63 mm |
Similar weather in May
Other destinations whose May averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
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FAQs about Edinburgh in May
May climate averages for Edinburgh, 1991–2020.
Edinburgh averages 10°C (50°F) in May, ranging from about 6°C (43°F) at night to 14°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 49 mm, so rain is unlikely to affect your plans.
No. May averages 10°C (50°F) against 13°C (55°F) in June — 2.9°C cooler.
May is 2.3°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 6.3 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average.
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 16 hours 21 minutes of daylight in mid-May, against 17 hours 35 minutes in June and 7 hours in December.
On 15 May, sunrise is about 04:59 and sunset about 21:20 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 1 hour 46 minutes longer than it starts.
