If you plan to visit Seattle in May, the weather is typically alright, with an average high temperature of +64°F during the day and approximately 3 sunny days. Expect some rainy, though, as there are typically 17 rainy days in the month and around 71 mm of precipitation. The weather is changeable so you may have to pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Average weather
☀️
+64°F
Avg. max. temperature
+37°F
Min.
+88°F
Max.
71 mm
Total precipitation
75%
Avg. humidity
1 m/s
Avg. wind
3 ☀️
Sunny Days
11 ⛅️
Cloudy
17 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Seattle has OK weather in May.
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Average temperature in Seattle in May
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Seattle for May based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Going from a maximum of +88°F during the day to a minimum of +46°F during the night, the temperature in May averages around +72°F.
The average maximum temperature goes up 4% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +61°F to +63°F.
Is Seattle warm or cold in May?
Seattle is typically mild in May.
Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +57°F to +64°F. The minimum temperature also goes up from +45°F to +50°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 Seattle:
Water temperature in Seattle in May
Water in Seattle in May is Cold. It varies from +44°F to +49°F, with an average of +47°F.The air temperature averaging +64°F is higher than the water temperature.
In May, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:
The warmest water temperatures in Seattle are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +53°F. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +45°F.
Can you swim in Seattle in May?
We would not recommend swimming in Seattle in May, the water is very cold (+47°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.
Travel to Seattle
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✈️
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Flights per week
$343
Min. Price
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Max. Price
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Climate in Seattle in May
Seattle weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
April
May
June
Avg. temperature
+57°F
+64°F
+68°F
Min. temperature
+34°F
+37°F
+41°F
Max. temperature
+81°F
+88°F
+104°F
Rainfall
97 mm
71 mm
56 mm
Wind
2 m/s
1 m/s
1 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+46°F
+47°F
+47°F
Humidity
76%
75%
73%
Air pressure
1016 HPa
1016 HPa
1016 HPa
Sunny days
2
3
4
Cloudy days
8
11
12
Rainy days
20
17
14
Snowy days
0
0
0
May weather is still as ok as in April.It’s getting warmer as May arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +57°F to +64°F during the day.As May arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 97 mm to 71 mm.It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 76% to 75%.Winds are calmer in comparison to April, going down from 2 m/s to 1 m/s on average.The good news is there are likely to be more sunny days in May, from 2 to 3.
But maybe it is worth considering traveling in June as the weather gets better.
Wind speed in Seattle in May based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 2 m/s getting up to 3 m/s which is a light breeze; barely moving the tree leaves.
The average wind speed in Seattle is gradually increasing during May, going from 1 m/s to 2 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during May in Seattle based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 35% chance of rain on an average day in May, with total rainfall of approximately 47 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 20 mm, which is considered light rain.May is a pretty wet month with over 11 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
Here’s how May is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Seattle wettest month is November, where a typical day has a 70% chance of precipitation and 177 mm of rainfall per day. July, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 29% chance of precipitation and 28 mm of rainfall per day.
How was the weather last May in Seattle?
This is the weather in Seattle in May 2023:
1 May
☁️
+61°F
2 May
🌧️
+68°F
3 May
☁️
+72°F
4 May
☁️
+69°F
5 May
🌧️
+54°F
6 May
🌧️
+60°F
7 May
☁️
+62°F
8 May
☁️
+65°F
9 May
☁️
+64°F
10 May
☀️
+70°F
11 May
☀️
+74°F
12 May
☁️
+79°F
13 May
☁️
+82°F
14 May
☀️
+88°F
15 May
☀️
+88°F
16 May
☁️
+79°F
17 May
☀️
+79°F
18 May
☀️
+77°F
19 May
☁️
+80°F
20 May
☁️
+76°F
21 May
☁️
+73°F
22 May
🌧️
+61°F
23 May
☁️
+65°F
24 May
☁️
+69°F
25 May
☀️
+74°F
26 May
☀️
+80°F
27 May
☁️
+82°F
28 May
☁️
+71°F
29 May
☁️
+66°F
30 May
☁️
+66°F
31 May
☁️
+63°F
In May 2023 Seattle had 8 sunny days, 19 cloudy days, and 4 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +72°F, with an absolute maximum of +88°F and a minimum of +54°F. The average humidity was 73%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 37%. The average wind speed was 2 m/s, with a maximum of 7 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how Seattle climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in Seattle in May has not changed that much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 2011 (+57°F) and the highest in 2014 (+62°F). The driest year was 1985 with only 714 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2021 with 2549 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Seattle in May:
Is May a good time to visit Seattle?
It’s always a good time to visit Seattle, but the weather is changeable in May, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.
Can you sunbathe in Seattle in May?
May has mild temperatures in Seattle. 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 Seattle in May?
Swimming in Seattle in May is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is Seattle rainy in May?
Seattle is often rainy in May. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in Seattle in May?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Seattle in May, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
How much does it cost to fly to Seattle in May?
The normal prices to fly to Seattle is $343 - $343. It means that the majority of our users have picked flights in this range. To find the best price we recommend you search early, using our flexible dates feature.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Seattle, 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.
