Your May weather guide
WarmWeather in Milan in May
May is a good time for Milan if you want warm afternoons rather than dependable dry weather. Average daytime highs are around 22°C, falling to about 12°C at night, so light layers make more sense than a summer-only suitcase. The catch is rain, with about 12 rainy days during the month. Go if you are happy to adjust outdoor plans; be more cautious if sunshine is the main reason for your trip.
Long-term climate averages for Milan, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Milan, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Milan.
- Average daytime high
- 21.7°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 26°C
- Average night-time low
- 11.7°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 8°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +5.1°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 6.5h
- 44% of 14.7 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 12
- 111 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 69%
- Days over 25°C
- 18%
- 2% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 32.9°C
- 2009-05-25
- Record low 1991-2020
- 2.0°C
- 1991-05-07
- Flight from London
- ≈ 1 h 54 min
- 937 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 Milan and ranks 88th of 134 destinations we compare for May - see where else is hot in May. Within Italy it is 7th of 16 (Italy in May). Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Milan is 5.1°C warmer by day and 3.4°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Milan peaks at 21.7°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 26.3°C or more. Roughly 1 in 6 days top 25°C and 1 in 63 pass 30°C. Nights average 11.7°C; one night in ten drops to 8.1°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 32.9°C (2009-05-25) and the coldest night 2.0°C (1991-05-07).
Rain in May
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 12 days with 1 mm or more, 111 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2002 with 286 mm, the driest 2009 with 7 mm. Humidity averages 69%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 6.5 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 14.7 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 05:53 and sets about 20:47 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 56%.
Is May a good time to visit Milan?
May is not the strongest month here: warm days and frequent rain. The best months for Milan on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Warm afternoons, but keep a layer for later
Milan in May suits travellers who enjoy being outdoors without relying on strong summer heat. A light top may be enough on a typical afternoon, but a jumper or jacket will be useful after dark. Days reach 25°C around 18% of the time, so leave room for warmer-weather clothing and take breaks from the sun when it feels hot at midday. At the cooler end, nights can fall to around 8°C or below, making bare arms less appealing for late outings. The practical choice is a mix of light clothes and removable layers, rather than packing entirely for either cool or hot weather.
Plan around rain, not just the temperature
Rain is the main compromise in May, so avoid making every day depend on staying outdoors. A compact umbrella, a light waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with wet pavements are sensible additions to your bag. About 6.5 hours of sunshine within 14.7 hours of daylight leaves scope for time outside, but long days should not be mistaken for uninterrupted sun. Keep outdoor plans flexible and have an indoor alternative when the forecast looks wet. May is a reasonable choice if you can work around the weather; it is less convincing if you want to leave waterproofs at home and count on dry afternoons.
A little perspective
Milan 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 | 6.9°C | -1.0°C | 3.9 | 61 | 7 | 0% |
| February | 9.1°C | -0.3°C | 4.9 | 59 | 7 | 0% |
| March | 13.7°C | 3.2°C | 5.8 | 73 | 8 | 0% |
| April | 17.3°C | 7.1°C | 6.0 | 98 | 11 | 1% |
| MaySelected | 21.7°C | 11.7°C | 6.5 | 111 | 12 | 18% |
| Junebest | 26.0°C | 15.8°C | 7.8 | 101 | 11 | 60% |
| Julybest | 28.6°C | 18.3°C | 9.0 | 77 | 9 | 87% |
| Augustbest | 28.0°C | 18.4°C | 8.1 | 105 | 10 | 81% |
| September | 22.8°C | 14.1°C | 6.4 | 118 | 9 | 26% |
| October | 17.2°C | 9.8°C | 4.2 | 127 | 10 | 1% |
| November | 11.4°C | 4.6°C | 3.3 | 141 | 11 | 0% |
| December | 7.0°C | -0.1°C | 3.5 | 73 | 7 | 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.
Spain · 22°C by day · sea 17°C
Lloret de Mar
Bermuda · 22°C by day · sea 22°C
Bermuda
Hungary · 21°C by day
Budapest
Montenegro · 22°C by day · sea 19°C
Budva
Spain · 22°C by day · sea 20°C
Fuerteventura
A little more detail
Milan in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Milan hot in May?
Milan is warm in May: the average daytime high is 21.7°C and nights average 11.7°C. Roughly 1 in 6 May days reach 25°C.
How much does it rain in Milan in May?
Milan sees about 12 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 111 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 2002 (286 mm) and the driest was 2009 (7 mm).
How sunny is Milan in May?
Milan gets around 6.5 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 14.7 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Milan compare with the UK in May?
Milan is on average 5.1°C warmer than London by day in May (21.7°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Milan?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Milan reached 32.9°C on 2009-05-25, and the coldest night dropped to 2.0°C on 1991-05-07.
Is Milan warmer than London in May?
Yes. Milan's average daytime high is 21.7°C, compared with 16.6°C in London, a difference of 5.1°C. That makes it a warmer option for a May break, although cool evenings and rain mean you should still bring layers and waterproofs.
Is May likely to be too hot for walking around?
Usually not: the average daytime high is around 22°C, and only 2% of days reach 30°C. Warmer spells are possible, so keep midday plans flexible, carry water and use sun protection rather than assuming every afternoon will feel mild.
Should I choose May or go later in summer?
Choose May if warm rather than hot weather appeals and you can accept wet-weather interruptions. July, August and June rate better overall for weather. May still makes sense if you prefer milder daytime conditions, but it is not a dependable dry-weather choice.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Milan. 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