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Shetland Islands in May: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Planning a trip and want to know what the weather in Shetland Islands in May will be like? Take a look at our weather guide for Shetland Islands, based on historical data.
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May

Weather in Shetland Islands in May 2024

OK Weather
Chill
☁️
Cloudy
If you plan to visit Shetland Islands in May, the weather is typically alright, with an average high temperature of +50°F during the day and approximately 2 sunny days. Expect some rainy, though, as there are typically 6 rainy days in the month and around 44 mm of precipitation. The weather is changeable so you may have to pack for every eventuality. Search flights in one click on Avionero.

Average weather

☀️
+50°F
Avg. max. temperature
+23°F
Min.
+70°F
Max.
44 mm
Total precipitation
80%
Avg. humidity
5 m/s
Avg. wind
2 ☀️
Sunny Days
23 ⛅️
Cloudy
6 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Shetland Islands has OK weather in May.

Average temperature in Shetland Islands in May

Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Shetland Islands for May based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The temperature in May is +50°F on average, with a range between a maximum of +52°F during the day and a minimum of +41°F at night.

The average maximum temperature goes up 17% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +48°F to +50°F.

Is Shetland Islands warm or cold in May?

Shetland Islands is typically chill in May.

Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +46°F to +50°F. The minimum temperature also goes up from +41°F to +43°F.

Pack a jumper and a jacket as there will be cooler temperatures.

Take a look at how May is compared to other months in Shetland Islands:

Climate in Shetland Islands in May

Shetland Islands weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
AprilMayJune
Avg. temperature
+46°F+50°F+54°F
Min. temperature
+3°F+23°F+36°F
Max. temperature
+64°F+70°F+73°F
Rainfall
54 mm44 mm46 mm
Wind
6 m/s5 m/s5 m/s
Humidity
79%80%83%
Air pressure
1011 HPa1012 HPa1012 HPa
Sunny days
222
Cloudy days
202322
Rainy days
866
Snowy days
000

May weather is still as ok as in April. It’s getting warmer as May arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +46°F to +50°F during the day. As May arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 54 mm to 44 mm. Humidity rises from 79% to 80%. Winds are calmer in comparison to April, going down from 6 m/s to 5 m/s on average. The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 2 sunny days during the month.

June brings much the same weather, it remains ok.

Wind

Wind speed in Shetland Islands in May based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The average wind speed is 7 m/s getting up to 11 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.

The average wind speed in Shetland Islands is gradually decreasing during May, going from 5 m/s to 3 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during May in Shetland Islands based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 55% chance of rain on an average day in May, with total rainfall of approximately 69 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 11 mm, which is considered light rain. May is a pretty wet month with over 17 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:
Shetland Islands wettest month is November, where a typical day has a 50% chance of precipitation and 122 mm of rainfall per day. May, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 19% chance of precipitation and 44 mm of rainfall per day.

How was the weather last May in Shetland Islands?

This is the weather in Shetland Islands in May 2023:
1 May
☁️
+48°F
2 May
☁️
+48°F
3 May
☁️
+46°F
4 May
☁️
+49°F
5 May
☁️
+50°F
6 May
☁️
+50°F
7 May
☁️
+46°F
8 May
☁️
+49°F
9 May
🌧️
+51°F
10 May
☁️
+50°F
11 May
🌧️
+49°F
12 May
🌧️
+48°F
13 May
🌧️
+48°F
14 May
☁️
+49°F
15 May
☁️
+50°F
16 May
☁️
+49°F
17 May
☁️
+51°F
18 May
☁️
+51°F
19 May
☁️
+51°F
20 May
☁️
+51°F
21 May
☁️
+50°F
22 May
🌧️
+51°F
23 May
☁️
+50°F
24 May
☁️
+49°F
25 May
🌧️
+50°F
26 May
🌧️
+49°F
27 May
☁️
+50°F
28 May
☁️
+50°F
29 May
🌧️
+48°F
30 May
🌧️
+49°F
31 May
☁️
+50°F
In May 2023 Shetland Islands had 0 sunny days, 22 cloudy days, and 9 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +50°F, with an absolute maximum of +52°F and a minimum of +46°F. The average humidity was 84%, with a maximum of 98% and a minimum of 57%. The average wind speed was 7 m/s, with a maximum of 13 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?

Climate Change Over the Years

This is how Shetland Islands climate has changed over the last 43 years.

The climate in Shetland Islands in May has not changed that much over the last 43 years.

The average temperature was the lowest in 1979 (+47°F) and the highest in 1992 (+57°F). The driest year was 1980 with only 3 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 1986 with 97 mm.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Shetland Islands in May:

Is May a good time to visit Shetland Islands?

It’s always a good time to visit Shetland Islands, 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 Shetland Islands in May?

Not really, May is not the best time to sunbathe, unless you visit a local solarium.

Is Shetland Islands rainy in May?

Shetland Islands is usually dry in May. Plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring.

Is it sunny in Shetland Islands in May?

Usually, it’s not very sunny in Shetland Islands in May, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.

Other cities in United Kingdom

Check out the weather for other cities in United Kingdom.

Monthly weather in Shetland Islands

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Shetland Islands, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2022.

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.