Weather in San Francisco in May
May in San Francisco is mild enough that walking is the default. This is a city-break month more than a sea-holiday month.
In United States, this is how San Francisco actually wears May, not how a country centroid would. Compared with September and January, May sits in the middle of San Francisco's year.
- Average temp
- 15°C
11–20°C
- Rainfall
- 13 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- —
- Wind
- 22 km/h
What to expect
Daytime
Mild afternoons in San Francisco are the prize in May. You can eat outside on the good days. You still want something for the breeze.
This is walking weather. Shade is useful, not essential the way it is in the hot months. A long outdoor day is a reasonable plan.
Rain
Mixed skies in San Francisco in May. Dry days and wet days share the month. Outdoor plans need a backup, not a cancellation policy.
Pack a shell you will actually carry. The monthly table is the place for totals. This is the feel: usable, interrupted.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What to pack
A layer for cooler evenings
Where to stay in San Francisco
Dates are a starting point for May.
Travel guides for San Francisco
What to read before you book.
Average weather in San Francisco
TemperatureRainfall
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FAQs about San Francisco
Climate averages for San Francisco, 1991–2020.
The best time to visit San Francisco is between May and October, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.
September is the hottest month, with an average around 18°C.
December is the wettest month, with about 106 mm of rain.
No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.
