Your May weather guide
WarmWeather in Florence in May
May is a good time for Florence if you want warm days for exploring on foot, but not if reliably dry weather is your priority. Average highs reach about 22°C, while nights fall to around 11°C, so packing layers makes sense. With about 10 rainy days, you should leave room to change your plans. It suits travellers who prefer moderate warmth and can accept some wet weather along the way.
Long-term climate averages for Florence, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Florence, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Florence.
- Average daytime high
- 21.9°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 26°C
- Average night-time low
- 11.4°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 8°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +5.3°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 6.9h
- 48% of 14.5 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 10
- 74 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 73%
- Days over 25°C
- 19%
- 1% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 32.1°C
- 2009-05-25
- Record low 1991-2020
- 3.8°C
- 2004-05-25
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 12 min
- 1185 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How May compares
May is the 5th warmest month of the year in Florence and ranks 83rd of 134 destinations we compare for May - see where else is hot in May. Within Italy it is 5th of 16 (Italy in May). Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Florence is 5.3°C warmer by day and 3.1°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Florence peaks at 21.9°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 26.4°C or more. Roughly 1 in 5 days top 25°C and 1 in 100 pass 30°C. Nights average 11.4°C; one night in ten drops to 7.8°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 32.1°C (2009-05-25) and the coldest night 3.8°C (2004-05-25).
Rain in May
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 10 days with 1 mm or more, 74 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2019 with 163 mm, the driest 2003 with 7 mm. Humidity averages 73%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 6.9 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 14.5 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 05:49 and sets about 20:33 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 52%.
Is May a good time to visit Florence?
It is a reasonable choice: warm days but expect showers. The best months for Florence on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Warm days, with a cooler finish
Daytime temperatures are generally comfortable for spending time outside without planning everything around intense heat. A light top may be enough during warmer spells, but carry a jumper or jacket if you are staying out into the evening. The average night low does not tell the whole story: the coldest 10% of nights reach about 8°C or lower, which can feel distinctly chilly after a warm afternoon. At the other end, the warmest 10% of days reach about 26°C or more. Keep your clothing flexible rather than packing only for summer, and take a break from the sun if a warmer afternoon feels tiring.
Plenty of daylight, but plan around rain
Rain is the main catch in May, so treat outdoor plans as flexible rather than fixed. About 10 days have at least 1 mm of rain, though that does not mean each is a complete washout. A light waterproof and shoes you can comfortably wear in wet weather are sensible additions to your bag. There is still useful scope for time outside, with about 6.9 hours of sunshine a day within 14.5 hours of daylight. That leaves a generous window for a walk when conditions improve. If dry weather matters more to you than moderate temperatures, May is a compromise rather than a clear choice.
A little perspective
Florence through the year
May is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.4°C | 1.8°C | 3.4 | 67 | 10 | 0% |
| February | 10.6°C | 1.8°C | 4.5 | 76 | 10 | 0% |
| March | 14.3°C | 4.4°C | 5.3 | 72 | 10 | 0% |
| April | 17.7°C | 7.3°C | 5.8 | 82 | 12 | 1% |
| MaySelected | 21.9°C | 11.4°C | 6.9 | 74 | 10 | 19% |
| Junebest | 26.4°C | 15.6°C | 8.9 | 48 | 7 | 64% |
| Julybest | 29.7°C | 18.3°C | 10.8 | 29 | 4 | 92% |
| Augustbest | 29.9°C | 18.7°C | 9.6 | 33 | 5 | 92% |
| September | 24.7°C | 14.6°C | 6.9 | 85 | 9 | 46% |
| October | 19.4°C | 11.0°C | 4.6 | 113 | 12 | 4% |
| November | 14.0°C | 6.8°C | 3.3 | 128 | 13 | 0% |
| December | 10.1°C | 2.9°C | 3.4 | 97 | 12 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in May
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Montenegro · 22°C by day · sea 19°C
Budva
Spain · 22°C by day · sea 17°C
Lloret de Mar
Spain · 22°C by day · sea 20°C
Fuerteventura
Spain · 22°C by day · sea 18°C
Salou
Croatia · 22°C by day · sea 19°C
Dubrovnik
A little more detail
Florence in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Florence hot in May?
Florence is warm in May: the average daytime high is 21.9°C and nights average 11.4°C. Roughly 1 in 5 May days reach 25°C.
How much does it rain in Florence in May?
Florence sees about 10 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 74 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 2019 (163 mm) and the driest was 2003 (7 mm).
How sunny is Florence in May?
Florence gets around 6.9 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 14.5 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Florence compare with the UK in May?
Florence is on average 5.3°C warmer than London by day in May (21.9°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Florence?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Florence reached 32.1°C on 2009-05-25, and the coldest night dropped to 3.8°C on 2004-05-25.
Is Florence warmer than London in May?
Yes. Florence has an average daytime high of 21.9°C, compared with 16.6°C in London, a difference of 5.3°C. That makes it a warmer choice for daytime exploring, but evenings still call for a layer rather than just a light top.
Does Florence get very hot in May?
It can, but strong heat is not typical. Around 19% of days reach 25°C, while only 1% reach 30°C. May is therefore a reasonable choice if you want warmth without expecting very hot conditions, though a hotter spell remains possible.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Florence. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C