Dorset Weather in May

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

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Bournemouth Weymouth Poole Lyme Regis

Considering a trip to Dorset, the United Kingdom this May and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:

What to Expect in Dorset in May

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

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are mild and range from 15°C (59°F) in Portland to 17°C (63°F) in Beaminster. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 9°C (48°F) in Beaminster and 10°C (50°F) in Portland.

For a closer look at conditions across Dorset, the United Kingdom, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Swanage with an average of 55 mm (2.2 in) to moderate rainfall in Sherborne with 71 mm (2.8 in).

Average sunshine

Several destinations enjoy plenty of sunshine this month. Bournemouth sees close to 215 hours of sunlight, making it great for sun lovers.

Explore Dorset by month

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

January10°C (50°F) February10°C (50°F) March11°C (52°F) April13°C (55°F) May16°C (61°F) June19°C (66°F) This monthJuly21°C (70°F) August21°C (70°F) September19°C (66°F) October16°C (61°F) November13°C (55°F) December10°C (50°F)
Best Time to Visit Dorset →

Best Places to Visit in Dorset in May

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

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 Dorset

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

Temperature range in Dorset (May)

Precipitation variation in Dorset (May)

Bournemouth

In May Bournemouth 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 tolerable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
16°C (61°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
10°C (50°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
180 hours
215 hours
211 hours
Monthly rainfall
63 mm (2.5 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
61 mm (2.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
13 days
11 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
tolerable
pleasant
Climate in Bournemouth →

Weymouth

In May Weymouth 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 tolerable 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
171 hours
208 hours
208 hours
Monthly rainfall
67 mm (2.6 in)
63 mm (2.5 in)
63 mm (2.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
13 days
11 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
tolerable
pleasant
Climate in Weymouth →

Poole

In May Poole 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 tolerable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
16°C (61°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
10°C (50°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly sun hours
171 hours
208 hours
208 hours
Monthly rainfall
61 mm (2.4 in)
56 mm (2.2 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
13 days
11 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
tolerable
pleasant
Climate in Poole →

Lyme Regis

In May Lyme Regis generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 17°C (63°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
14°C (57°F)
17°C (63°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
9°C (48°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly sun hours
165 hours
197 hours
196 hours
Monthly rainfall
63 mm (2.5 in)
62 mm (2.4 in)
61 mm (2.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
14 days
12 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
tolerable
perfect
Climate in Lyme Regis →

Swanage

In May Swanage generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
10°C (50°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
180 hours
215 hours
211 hours
Monthly rainfall
61 mm (2.4 in)
55 mm (2.2 in)
57 mm (2.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
13 days
11 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
tolerable
pleasant
Climate in Swanage →

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

Popular cities in May

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Bournemouth 16°C (61°F) 10°C (50°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Weymouth 16°C (61°F) 10°C (50°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Poole 16°C (61°F) 10°C (50°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Lyme Regis 17°C (63°F) 9°C (48°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Swanage 15°C (59°F) 10°C (50°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Bridport 17°C (63°F) 9°C (48°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)

Dorset weather in May: frequently asked questions

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

In May, Dorset, the United Kingdom generally has tolerable weather conditions. Bournemouth sees daytime temperatures near 16°C (61°F), with nights cooling to roughly 10°C (50°F).

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

In Bournemouth, the average daytime high in May is 16°C (61°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 10°C (50°F).

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

Not particularly. Bournemouth averages just 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain in May, making it a mostly dry month for Dorset, the United Kingdom.

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

Given the typically tolerable weather conditions in Bournemouth, May might be a good time to visit Dorset, the United Kingdom.

Generally speaking, July and August provide perfect weather in Bournemouth. On the other hand, the weather in January, February, November and December tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Dorset.

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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