California weather in May
Are you planning a trip to California in May and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.
What is the weather like in California in May?
California is a region in the United States of America. California offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In May, one might encounter temperatures that range from cold to very warm, and precipitation levels ranging from almost none to moderate.
Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is cold in Sequoia National Park at 10°C to very warm in Furnace Creek at 37°C. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 22°C in Furnace Creek and -3°C in Sequoia National Park.
In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From almost no rainfall in Palm Desert with an average of 0.2 mm to moderate rainfall in Kirkwood with 65 mm. Meanwhile, Los Angeles enjoys close to 276 hours of sunlight. This means it's a great month if you prefer bright and sunny days.
For a closer look at May's conditions in California, see the map below. For a more detailed look at California's yearly weather, check out our California climate page.
Where to go in California in May
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Popular destinations
What is the weather like in May for the 5 most popular destinations in California?
Los Angeles
In May Los Angeles generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 21°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 14°C and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.
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Big Bear Lake
In May Big Bear Lake generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.
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San Francisco
In May San Francisco generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.
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San Diego
In May San Diego generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 21°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 15°C and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.
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Anaheim
In May Anaheim generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 25°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 14°C and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.
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Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at other destinations in California, in the United States of America.
Is May the best time to visit California?
We believe that May is one of the best times to visit California with overall perfect weather in Los Angeles. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.
Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in January, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November offering mostly perfect weather in Los Angeles.
Interested in more climate information?
We have much more information about the climate in California.
Interested in the weather conditions in a specific month? Select the month below.
Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to the United States of America? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in the United States of America.
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.