Newquay

Cornwall Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Cornwall, the United Kingdom in May.

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Newquay St Austell Penzance Bude

Planning a getaway to Cornwall, the United Kingdom this May and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in Cornwall in May

Cornwall, the United Kingdom is a region in the United Kingdom. May in Cornwall generally has mild temperatures, with moderate precipitation.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are mild and range from 14°C (57°F) in Sennen to 17°C (63°F) in Truro. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 9°C (48°F) in Truro and 11°C (52°F) in Sennen.

For specific regional insights in Cornwall, the United Kingdom, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Lizard with an average of 60 mm (2.4 in) to moderate rainfall in Launceston with 82 mm (3.2 in). Looking at the climate data spanning the last 30 years, this month usually has the lowest rainfall in Newquay, marking it as the year's driest month.

Average sunshine

Plenty of sunshine can be expected in numerous places in May. Newquay typically receives 222 hours of sunlight, making it ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Cornwall by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Cornwall - and find the best time to visit. (based on Newquay)

January11°C (52°F) February10°C (50°F) March12°C (54°F) April13°C (55°F) May16°C (61°F) June18°C (64°F) This monthJuly20°C (68°F) August20°C (68°F) September19°C (66°F) October16°C (61°F) November13°C (55°F) December11°C (52°F)
Best Time to Visit Cornwall →

Best Places to Visit in Cornwall in May

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

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 Cornwall

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in Cornwall, the United Kingdom?

Temperature range in Cornwall (May)

Precipitation variation in Cornwall (May)

Newquay

In May Newquay generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are good that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
10°C (50°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly sun hours
193 hours
222 hours
216 hours
Monthly rainfall
72 mm (2.8 in)
68 mm (2.7 in)
70 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
15 days
13 days
Weather conditions
mixed
good
very good
Climate in Newquay →

St Austell

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

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
9°C (48°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly sun hours
193 hours
222 hours
216 hours
Monthly rainfall
76 mm (3 in)
72 mm (2.8 in)
75 mm (3 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
14 days
13 days
Weather conditions
mixed
good
very good
Climate in St Austell →

Penzance

In May Penzance generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are good that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
11°C (52°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
193 hours
222 hours
216 hours
Monthly rainfall
69 mm (2.7 in)
63 mm (2.5 in)
61 mm (2.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
15 days
13 days
Weather conditions
mixed
good
good
Climate in Penzance →

Bude

In May Bude generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are good that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
9°C (48°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly sun hours
188 hours
222 hours
221 hours
Monthly rainfall
78 mm (3.1 in)
75 mm (3 in)
82 mm (3.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
15 days
14 days
Weather conditions
mixed
good
very good
Climate in Bude →

Falmouth

In May Falmouth generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are good that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
10°C (50°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly sun hours
193 hours
222 hours
216 hours
Monthly rainfall
68 mm (2.7 in)
63 mm (2.5 in)
63 mm (2.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
14 days
12 days
Weather conditions
mixed
good
very good
Climate in Falmouth →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Cornwall, in the United Kingdom.

Popular cities in May

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Newquay 16°C (61°F) 10°C (50°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
St Austell 16°C (61°F) 9°C (48°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Penzance 15°C (59°F) 11°C (52°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Bude 15°C (59°F) 9°C (48°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Falmouth 16°C (61°F) 10°C (50°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Padstow 16°C (61°F) 9°C (48°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)

Cornwall weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Cornwall, the United Kingdom in May?

Expect good weather across Cornwall, the United Kingdom in May. The popular destination of Newquay averages 16°C (61°F) by day and 10°C (50°F) at night during this month.

What is the average temperature in Cornwall, the United Kingdom in May?

Average temperatures in Cornwall, the United Kingdom during May range from a nighttime low near 10°C (50°F) to a daytime high around 16°C (61°F) in Newquay.

Does Cornwall, the United Kingdom get a lot of rain in May?

Not particularly. Newquay averages just 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain in May, making it a mostly dry month for Cornwall, the United Kingdom.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Cornwall, the United Kingdom?

In our opinion, May is a good time to visit Cornwall, the United Kingdom with overall good weather in Newquay.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in July and August offering mostly excellent weather in Newquay. In contrast, February, November and December tend to have less favorable weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Cornwall.

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

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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