Your May weather guide
WarmWeather in Puglia in May
May is a good time for Puglia if you want warm days for being outdoors rather than a holiday built around swimming. Average daytime highs are 21.5°C, with about 8.3 hours of sunshine a day, but the sea is still bracing at 18°C. The catch is that rain remains possible and evenings need an extra layer. Go for comfortable daytime warmth; choose another month if reliably hot weather is your priority.
Long-term climate averages for Bari, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Puglia, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Bari.
- Average daytime high
- 21.5°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 25°C
- Average night-time low
- 15.3°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 13°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +4.9°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sea temperature
- 18.0°C
- year to year: 17°C to 19°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 8.3h
- 58% of 14.3 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 8
- 40 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 71%
- Days over 25°C
- 11%
- 0% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 32.7°C
- 2020-05-15
- Record low 1991-2020
- 8.5°C
- 2019-05-01
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 54 min
- 1716 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 Puglia and ranks 95th of 134 destinations we compare for May - see where else is hot in May. Within Italy it is 8th of 16 (Italy in May). Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Puglia is 4.9°C warmer by day and 7.0°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Puglia peaks at 21.5°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 25.1°C or more. Roughly 1 in 9 days top 25°C and 1 in 500 pass 30°C. Nights average 15.3°C; one night in ten drops to 12.6°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 32.7°C (2020-05-15) and the coldest night 8.5°C (2019-05-01).
Rain in May
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 8 days with 1 mm or more, 40 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2019 with 76 mm, the driest 1997 with 8 mm. Humidity averages 71%.
Sea temperature in May
The sea averages 18.0°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 16.6°C to 19.2°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.1°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 8.3 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 14.3 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 05:34 and sets about 20:03 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 42%.
Is May a good time to visit Puglia?
It is a reasonable choice: warm days. The best months for Puglia on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Warm days, but pack for cooler evenings
May’s warmth should suit travellers who prefer walking and spending time outdoors without making strong heat the main attraction. Days reach 25°C about 11% of the time, so pack lighter clothes, but do not expect every afternoon to feel hot. A hat and sun protection make sense for sunny spells, while a light jumper or jacket will be useful after dark. The average night low is 15.3°C, and the coldest nights can fall to 12.6°C or below. If you tend to feel the cold, bring trousers and closed shoes rather than relying entirely on shorts and sandals.
Plenty of daylight, with room for rain
About 8.3 hours of sunshine within 14.3 hours of daylight gives you plenty of scope to spend time outside without needing to fit everything around midday. That does not mean uninterrupted sunshine: May has about 8 rainy days, so a completely dry stay is not something to count on. Pack a light waterproof and keep your plans flexible enough to move outdoor time around the forecast. The balance looks reasonable if you can accept some unsettled weather in return for mild warmth. It is less suitable if rain would spoil the main purpose of your trip.
Better for time by the sea than warm-water swimming
The sea is the clearest compromise in May. At an average of 18°C, it is bracing rather than comfortably warm, with a year-to-year range of 17°C to 19°C. Keen swimmers who tolerate cool water may be happy to get in, but travellers who like lingering in a warm sea should temper their expectations. A sunny afternoon does not necessarily mean the water will feel inviting. Bring swimwear if you fancy a dip, but plan a holiday that still works without daily swimming. May makes more sense for enjoying time outdoors by the coast than for making warm water essential.
A little perspective
Puglia through the year
May is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12.1°C | 7.4°C | 13.6°C | 4.2 | 59 | 9 | 0% |
| February | 12.5°C | 7.2°C | 13.1°C | 5.1 | 56 | 10 | 0% |
| March | 14.7°C | 8.9°C | 13.2°C | 5.8 | 59 | 10 | 0% |
| April | 17.5°C | 11.3°C | 14.3°C | 6.8 | 58 | 10 | 1% |
| MaySelected | 21.5°C | 15.3°C | 18.0°C | 8.3 | 40 | 8 | 11% |
| Junebest | 25.9°C | 19.5°C | 22.2°C | 10.8 | 35 | 6 | 58% |
| Julybest | 28.5°C | 22.0°C | 25.0°C | 12.4 | 25 | 5 | 91% |
| Augustbest | 29.0°C | 22.4°C | 26.1°C | 11.3 | 24 | 5 | 94% |
| September | 25.0°C | 19.1°C | 24.0°C | 7.7 | 57 | 8 | 50% |
| October | 21.1°C | 15.6°C | 20.6°C | 5.6 | 64 | 8 | 8% |
| November | 16.9°C | 12.1°C | 17.2°C | 4.1 | 71 | 9 | 0% |
| December | 13.1°C | 8.7°C | 14.8°C | 4.1 | 61 | 10 | 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
- Sea
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.
A little more detail
Puglia in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Puglia hot in May?
Puglia is warm in May: the average daytime high is 21.5°C and nights average 15.3°C. Roughly 1 in 9 May days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Puglia in May?
The sea around Puglia averages 18.0°C in May, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 17°C to 19°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Puglia in May?
Puglia sees about 8 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 40 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 2019 (76 mm) and the driest was 1997 (8 mm).
How sunny is Puglia in May?
Puglia gets around 8.3 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 14.3 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Puglia compare with the UK in May?
Puglia is on average 4.9°C warmer than London by day in May (21.5°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Puglia?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Puglia reached 32.7°C on 2020-05-15, and the coldest night dropped to 8.5°C on 2019-05-01.
How much warmer is Puglia than London in May?
Puglia’s average daytime high is 21.5°C, compared with 16.6°C in London, a difference of 4.9°C. That is a noticeable step up in warmth, though it does not remove the need for layers in the evening or during cooler weather.
Can I expect hot weather every day?
No. May is warm rather than consistently hot: about 11% of days reach 25°C, while the recorded share reaching 30°C is 0%. Pack for comfortable warmth with occasional hotter afternoons, not for a holiday that depends on daily heat.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Bari. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 0.6 km from that point. 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