Planning a trip to San Francisco in May? You are in luck! The weather is generally good, with an average maximum temperature of +68°F and approximately 9 sunny days. Just be prepared for some rain, as there are usually around 4 rainy days and 16 mm of precipitation. Expect good weather and pack accordingly to enjoy the outdoors. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Average weather
☀️
+68°F
Avg. max. temperature
+45°F
Min.
+91°F
Max.
16 mm
Total precipitation
79%
Avg. humidity
3 m/s
Avg. wind
9 ☀️
Sunny Days
17 ⛅️
Cloudy
4 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: San Francisco has good weather in May.
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Average temperature in San Francisco in May
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in San Francisco for May based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Going from a maximum of +77°F during the day to a minimum of +48°F during the night, the temperature in May averages around +64°F.
The average maximum temperature goes up 0% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +63°F to +63°F.
Is San Francisco warm or cold in May?
San Francisco is typically mild in May.
Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +66°F to +68°F. The minimum temperature also goes up from +50°F to +52°F.
Pack a light jacket as it will be warm in the day and cool in the evenings.
Take a look at how May is compared to other months in San Francisco:
Water temperature in San Francisco in May
Water in San Francisco in May is Cold. It varies from +49°F to +56°F, with an average of +53°F.The air temperature averaging +68°F is higher than the water temperature.
The water temperature in May is one of the coldest of the entire year:
The warmest water temperatures in San Francisco are reached in September, when the average sea temperature rises to +57°F. The coldest water temperatures are in June, with an average of +52°F.
Can you swim in San Francisco in May?
We would not recommend swimming in San Francisco in May, the water is very cold (+53°F on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.
Climate in San Francisco in May
San Francisco weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
April
May
June
Avg. temperature
+66°F
+68°F
+73°F
Min. temperature
+39°F
+45°F
+46°F
Max. temperature
+86°F
+91°F
+97°F
Rainfall
36 mm
16 mm
3 mm
Wind
3 m/s
3 m/s
3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+53°F
+53°F
+52°F
Humidity
78%
79%
79%
Air pressure
1016 HPa
1014 HPa
1013 HPa
Sunny days
8
9
11
Cloudy days
14
17
17
Rainy days
8
4
1
Snowy days
0
0
0
May weather is still as good as in April.It’s getting warmer as May arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +66°F to +68°F during the day.As May arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 36 mm to 16 mm.Humidity rises from 78% to 79%.The average wind speed doesn’t change much during May, staying around 3 m/s.The good news is there are likely to be more sunny days in May, from 8 to 9.
June brings much the same weather, it remains good.
Wind speed in San Francisco in May based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 1 m/s getting up to 6 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in San Francisco is gradually decreasing during May, going from 6 m/s to 1 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during May in San Francisco based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 19% chance of rain on an average day in May, with total rainfall of approximately 36 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 23 mm, which is considered light rain.On average, there are about 6 rainy days during May, so prepare to bring an umbrella.
Here’s how May is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
San Francisco wettest month is December, where a typical day has a 39% chance of precipitation and 117 mm of rainfall per day. July, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 0% chance of precipitation and 0 mm of rainfall per day.
How was the weather last May in San Francisco?
This is the weather in San Francisco in May 2023:
1 May
☁️
+63°F
2 May
🌧️
+58°F
3 May
🌧️
+59°F
4 May
☁️
+60°F
5 May
☁️
+61°F
6 May
☁️
+61°F
7 May
☁️
+62°F
8 May
☀️
+63°F
9 May
☁️
+64°F
10 May
☀️
+62°F
11 May
☀️
+65°F
12 May
☀️
+68°F
13 May
☁️
+77°F
14 May
☀️
+76°F
15 May
☁️
+67°F
16 May
☁️
+73°F
17 May
☁️
+71°F
18 May
☁️
+64°F
19 May
☁️
+64°F
20 May
☁️
+63°F
21 May
☁️
+69°F
22 May
☀️
+71°F
23 May
☁️
+69°F
24 May
☁️
+64°F
25 May
☁️
+63°F
26 May
☁️
+63°F
27 May
☁️
+62°F
28 May
☁️
+61°F
29 May
☁️
+65°F
30 May
☁️
+64°F
31 May
☁️
+63°F
In May 2023 San Francisco had 6 sunny days, 23 cloudy days, and 2 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +64°F, with an absolute maximum of +77°F and a minimum of +57°F. The average humidity was 83%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 67%. The average wind speed was 1 m/s, with a maximum of 9 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how San Francisco climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in San Francisco in May has not changed that much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1982 (+65°F) and the highest in 2014 (+70°F). The driest year was 2013 with only 127 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 1983 with 1162 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in San Francisco in May:
Is May a good time to visit San Francisco?
May is a really good time to go to San Francisco. The weather is nice so plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring. Check out other good time to visit San Francisco.
Can you sunbathe in San Francisco in May?
May has mild temperatures in San Francisco. Not ideal for sunbathing, but still good for daytime outdoor activities, but plan for cool evenings. Pack a light jacket and shorts!
Can you swim in San Francisco in May?
Swimming in San Francisco in May is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is San Francisco rainy in May?
San Francisco is usually dry in May. Plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring.
Is it sunny in San Francisco in May?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in San Francisco in May, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in San Francisco, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.
