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Canada Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Canada in May.

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Toronto Montréal Vancouver Whistler

Are you planning a trip a to Canada in May and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in Canada in May

Canada offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In May, one might encounter temperatures that range from very cold to warm, and precipitation levels ranging from low to high.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from very cold in Alert at -6°C (21°F) to warm in Osoyoos at 22°C (72°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 7°C (45°F) in Osoyoos and -11°C (12°F) in Alert.

For specific regional insights in Canada, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From low snowfall in Alert with an average of 18 mm (0.7 in) to high snowfall in Kitimat with 146 mm (5.7 in).

Average sunshine

Most destinations offer generous amounts of sunshine this May. For example, Toronto gets approximately 227 hours of sunlight, perfect for anyone wanting bright, sunny days.

Explore Canada by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Canada — and find the best time to visit. (based on Toronto)

January1°C (34°F) February1°C (34°F) March5°C (41°F) April10°C (50°F) May16°C (61°F) June22°C (72°F) This monthJuly26°C (79°F) August26°C (79°F) September22°C (72°F) October16°C (61°F) November9°C (48°F) December4°C (39°F)
Best Time to Visit Canada →

Best Places to Visit in Canada in May

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Canada.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Canada

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in Canada?

Temperature range in Canada (May)

Precipitation variation in Canada (May)

Toronto

In May Toronto generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
16°C (61°F)
22°C (72°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
8°C (46°F)
14°C (57°F)
Monthly sun hours
180 hours
227 hours
260 hours
Monthly rainfall
95 mm (3.7 in)
80 mm (3.1 in)
83 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
11 days
10 days
Weather conditions
poor
tolerable
perfect
Climate in Toronto →

Montréal

In May Montréal generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
20°C (68°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
1°C (34°F)
8°C (46°F)
14°C (57°F)
Monthly sun hours
179 hours
230 hours
241 hours
Monthly rainfall
110 mm (4.3 in)
101 mm (4 in)
113 mm (4.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
13 days
13 days
Weather conditions
poor
pleasant
pleasant
Climate in Montréal →

Quebec City

In May Quebec City generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
19°C (66°F)
23°C (73°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
6°C (43°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly sun hours
170 hours
211 hours
234 hours
Monthly rainfall
115 mm (4.5 in)
110 mm (4.3 in)
131 mm (5.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
14 days
15 days
Weather conditions
poor
tolerable
pleasant
Climate in Quebec City →

Vancouver

In May Vancouver generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
16°C (61°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
9°C (48°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly sun hours
185 hours
222 hours
226 hours
Monthly rainfall
172 mm (6.8 in)
111 mm (4.4 in)
96 mm (3.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
12 days
10 days
Weather conditions
poor
unpleasant
pleasant
Climate in Vancouver →

Ottawa

In May Ottawa generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
20°C (68°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
1°C (34°F)
7°C (45°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly sun hours
188 hours
231 hours
255 hours
Monthly rainfall
98 mm (3.9 in)
93 mm (3.7 in)
105 mm (4.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
12 days
12 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
perfect
pleasant
Climate in Ottawa →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Canada.

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Canada in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Toronto 16°C (61°F) 8°C (46°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Montréal 20°C (68°F) 8°C (46°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Vancouver 16°C (61°F) 9°C (48°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Whistler 11°C (52°F) 1°C (34°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Victoria 15°C (59°F) 10°C (50°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Jasper 9°C (48°F) -3°C (27°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)

Canada weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Canada in May?

Expect tolerable weather across Canada in May. The popular destination of Toronto averages 16°C (61°F) by day and 8°C (46°F) at night during this month.

What is the average temperature in Canada in May?

Average temperatures in Canada during May range from a nighttime low near 8°C (46°F) to a daytime high around 16°C (61°F) in Toronto.

Does Canada get a lot of rain in May?

Not particularly. Toronto averages just 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain in May, making it a mostly dry month for Canada.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Canada?

In our opinion, May is a good time to visit Canada with overall tolerable weather in Toronto. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.

On average, the best time to visit Canada is in June, July, August and September with generally perfect weather in Toronto. In contrast, January, February, March, April, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Canada.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Canada? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Canada.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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