Shetland weather in May (Scotland)

How is the weather in Shetland in May? Check out this comprehensive weather guide.

In May, Shetland typically experiences low temperatures and moderate rainfall. Daytime temperatures hover around 10°C, while nights can cool down to about 7°C.

Shetland in May usually receives moderate rainfall, averaging around 52 mm for the month. It's the month receiving the least amount of rain. As the days go by, you can expect fewer clouds and less precipitation. This makes it an ideal time for outdoor activities and events that might be disrupted by wetter conditions in other months. Delving into the climate records from the past 30 years, one can predict that nearly 17 days of the month will see rainfall.

The area enjoys a balanced 182 hours of sunlight. Ensuring it's neither too overcast nor too sunny.

If you prefer dry days with pleasant temperatures, May may not be the ideal month to visit Shetland. July, August and September typically offer the most optimal weather. In contrast, January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December tend to have less optimal conditions.

For an in-depth look at the yearly conditions, visit our specialized Shetland climate page with graphs.

 

Shetland, monthly averages in May

Min Temperature 7°C  

Max Temperature 10°C  

Chance of Rain 55%  

Precipitation 52 mm  

Rainy days 17 days  

Sunshine 182 hours  

Percentage Sunshine  

Where to go in Scotland in May

Find out more about the weather in Scotland in May and which places have the best weather conditions in this month.

Weather conditions Weather

Temperatures

Precipitation

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Legend perfect weather pleasant tolerable unpleasant poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C and 29°C and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm a month).

So, what should you wear in Shetland in May?

Plan on layering your clothes. Some days or part of the day it will be nice and warm and some moments it can be a bit chilly. Bring a rain jacket in case it rains during your stay.

What To Do

We rated the following activities from 1 (least suitable) to 10 (best) to do in May.

Swimming

5/10

Cycling

6/10

Walking

6/10

Camping

4/10

Outdoor sports

6/10

Interested in more climate information?

Weather and Climate provides you with all the information you need about the climate in Shetland.

Our site offers climate and forecast data for every country in the world. Are you going to Scotland? On this website you can find historical weather averages for many cities in Scotland. Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal climate conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.