United Kingdom weather in May
United Kingdom in May averages 14°C (56°F), 46 mm of rain and 6.3 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in United Kingdom, May is the fifth warmest and the third sunniest.
- Average temp
- 14°C (56°F)
9–18°C · 48–65°F
- Rainfall
- 46 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- 6.3 h
hours per day
What is United Kingdom like in May?
Daytime
Days are mild.
Rain
Rain is usually light.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for United Kingdom in May?
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 9°C (48°F).
May compared with April and June
May in United Kingdom is 3.2°C warmer than April and about as wet as it, which averages 10°C (51°F).
May in United Kingdom is 3.2°C cooler than June and about as wet as it, which averages 17°C (62°F).
Daylight in United Kingdom in May
On 15 May the sun is up for 15 hours 39 minutes in United Kingdom, rising about 05:08 and setting about 20:46 local time.
May ends 1 hour 25 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 58 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Travel guides for United Kingdom
What to read before you book.
United Kingdom 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 | 6°C / 42°F | 59 mm |
| February | 6°C / 43°F | 45 mm |
| March | 8°C / 46°F | 38 mm |
| April | 10°C / 51°F | 43 mm |
| May | 14°C / 56°F | 46 mm |
| June | 17°C / 62°F | 47 mm |
| July | 19°C / 66°F | 46 mm |
| August | 19°C / 65°F | 53 mm |
| September | 16°C / 60°F | 51 mm |
| October | 12°C / 54°F | 64 mm |
| November | 8°C / 47°F | 67 mm |
| December | 6°C / 43°F | 57 mm |
Similar weather in May
Other destinations whose May averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
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FAQs about United Kingdom in May
May climate averages for United Kingdom, 1991–2020.
United Kingdom averages 14°C (56°F) in May, ranging from about 9°C (48°F) at night to 18°C (65°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 46 mm, so rain is unlikely to affect your plans.
No. May averages 14°C (56°F) against 17°C (62°F) in June — 3.2°C cooler.
May is 3.2°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 15 hours 39 minutes of daylight in mid-May, against 16 hours 37 minutes in June and 7 hours 52 minutes in December.
On 15 May, sunrise is about 05:08 and sunset about 20:46 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 1 hour 25 minutes longer than it starts.
