USA
San Francisco in May: weather, sea & travel advice
This month's data profile
Strong month under the current formula
San Francisco in May is climatically well suited to city breaks and active holidays and hiking. The average daily high is around 19 °C, and the sea is about 12 °C. With about 3 rainy days it is dry.
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Rank among 12 monthly averages
68/100 · #6
Warmth
#6
Dryness
#5
Sun
#3
Sea warmth
#11
Published best categories: Active
San Francisco · MayPhoto: Dale Cruse · CC BY 2.0Climate facts
- Average high
- 19 °C
- Average low
- 10 °C
- Sea
- 12 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 3 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 9 h/day
- Humidity
- 78 %
Climate evidence with direct month comparison
The highlighted row is the selected month. Precipitation total and rainy days are separate monthly averages.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Precipitation mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Sea °C | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 17 | 8 | 6 | 37 | 7.7 | 80 | 2.4 | 11 | 61 |
| May (selected) | 19 | 10 | 3 | 20 | 9.0 | 78 | 2.5 | 12 | 68 |
| June | 22 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 10.1 | 74 | 2.5 | 12 | 74 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: May (68/100)
Positive and negative values show the change from the selected month.
| Score Δ | Average high Δ | Average low Δ | Rainy days Δ | Rain Δ | Sun Δ | Humidity Δ | Wind Δ | Sea Δ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | -7 | -2.1 °C | -1.5 °C | +2.2 | +16.4 mm | -1.3 h | +2 % | ±0 m/s | -0.2 °C |
| June | +6 | +2.4 °C | +1.3 °C | -2 | -13.9 mm | +1.1 h | -4.1 % | ±0 m/s | +0.6 °C |
All twelve months in context
Find a place to stay
Where to stay in San Francisco
Compare available stays, prices and cancellation terms for San Francisco on Booking.com.
Booking.comFind places to stayAffiliate link: there is no extra cost to you.
Useful next decisions
Frequently asked questions
How warm is San Francisco in May?
The average daily high is around 19 °C, with an average daily low of about 10 °C.
Can you swim in San Francisco in May?
The sea is about 12 °C (cold).
Does it rain a lot in San Francisco in May?
The curated estimate is about 3 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 20 mm for the month. A rainy day does not mean all-day rain.
When is the best time to visit San Francisco?
By the climate score, July, August, September and October are the strongest months for San Francisco. For a beach trip: July, August and September. May is not among them.