Your May weather guide
CoolWeather in Norwegian Fjords in May
May is a good time for the Norwegian Fjords if you want long days and can accept cool, wet weather rather than warmth. Average highs of 12.3°C and night lows of 5.5°C make layers more useful than summer clothes. With about 14 rainy days, waterproofs are essential rather than a precaution. It suits travellers happy to adjust outdoor plans around showers; it is less appealing if sunshine and comfortable swimming are central to your holiday.
Long-term climate averages for Bergen, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Norwegian Fjords, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Bergen.
- Average daytime high
- 12.3°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 18°C
- Average night-time low
- 5.5°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 2°C or lower
- Compared with London
- -4.3°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sea temperature
- 8.7°C
- year to year: 8°C to 10°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 6.7h
- 40% of 16.9 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 14
- 117 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 77%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 28.4°C
- 2018-05-31
- Record low 1991-2020
- -1.5°C
- 1992-05-10
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 6 min
- 1083 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 Norwegian Fjords. Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Norwegian Fjords is 4.3°C cooler by day and 2.8°C cooler at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Norwegian Fjords peaks at 12.3°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 17.9°C or more. Roughly 1 in 333 days top 25°C. Nights average 5.5°C; one night in ten drops to 2.0°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 28.4°C (2018-05-31) and the coldest night -1.5°C (1992-05-10).
Rain in May
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 14 days with 1 mm or more, 117 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2011 with 228 mm, the driest 2008 with 11 mm. Humidity averages 77%.
Sea temperature in May
The sea averages 8.7°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 7.7°C to 9.8°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (15.3°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 6.7 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 16.9 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 04:58 and sets about 22:13 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 61%.
Is May a good time to visit Norwegian Fjords?
May is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Norwegian Fjords on our scoring are May, July, June.
Cool days, colder evenings
Pack for a cool spring trip, not an early summer holiday. A jumper or fleece beneath a waterproof jacket gives you flexibility during the day, while long trousers and an extra warm layer will be useful in the evening. The warmest days can reach 18°C or more, so lighter clothing still has a place, but that is not the temperature to plan around. At the colder end, nights can fall to 2°C or lower. If you tend to feel the cold, prioritise warm clothing for time outdoors after dark. Midday heat is unlikely to be the main constraint on your plans.
Long daylight helps, but rain needs room in the plan
May offers about 16.9 hours of daylight, giving you plenty of scope to shift outdoor time when the weather is more favourable. That does not mean clear skies throughout: average sunshine is about 6.7 hours a day. Rain is a meaningful part of the holiday, so avoid making every day depend on dry conditions. Carry a waterproof jacket and choose footwear you can comfortably wear in wet weather. Keep plans flexible enough to use brighter spells rather than relying on a fixed outdoor schedule. The balance is appealing if you value daylight more than warmth, but less so if persistent sunshine is your priority.
A little perspective
Norwegian Fjords 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 | 2.4°C | -1.2°C | 6.1°C | 1.3 | 247 | 20 | 0% |
| February | 2.7°C | -1.7°C | 5.1°C | 2.1 | 209 | 17 | 0% |
| March | 4.7°C | -0.4°C | 4.7°C | 3.0 | 192 | 18 | 0% |
| April | 8.7°C | 2.2°C | 5.7°C | 4.7 | 133 | 16 | 0% |
| MaySelectedbest | 12.3°C | 5.5°C | 8.7°C | 6.7 | 117 | 14 | 0% |
| Junebest | 15.1°C | 8.9°C | 11.7°C | 6.1 | 118 | 14 | 1% |
| Julybest | 17.1°C | 11.3°C | 14.1°C | 5.3 | 149 | 16 | 3% |
| August | 17.1°C | 11.4°C | 15.3°C | 4.3 | 186 | 17 | 2% |
| September | 14.2°C | 9.0°C | 13.6°C | 3.3 | 245 | 18 | 0% |
| October | 9.7°C | 5.1°C | 11.3°C | 2.5 | 258 | 19 | 0% |
| November | 5.4°C | 1.7°C | 9.3°C | 1.6 | 256 | 19 | 0% |
| December | 3.0°C | -0.7°C | 7.5°C | 1.2 | 269 | 20 | 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
Norwegian Fjords in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Norwegian Fjords hot in May?
Norwegian Fjords is cool in May: the average daytime high is 12.3°C and nights average 5.5°C. Roughly 1 in 333 May days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Norwegian Fjords in May?
The sea around Norwegian Fjords averages 8.7°C in May, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 8°C to 10°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Norwegian Fjords in May?
Norwegian Fjords sees about 14 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 117 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 2011 (228 mm) and the driest was 2008 (11 mm).
How sunny is Norwegian Fjords in May?
Norwegian Fjords gets around 6.7 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 16.9 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Norwegian Fjords compare with the UK in May?
Norwegian Fjords is on average 4.3°C cooler than London by day in May (12.3°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Norwegian Fjords?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Norwegian Fjords reached 28.4°C on 2018-05-31, and the coldest night dropped to -1.5°C on 1992-05-10.
How does May weather compare with London?
The Norwegian Fjords are noticeably cooler, with an average daytime high of 12.3°C compared with London's 16.6°C. That 4.3°C difference is enough to make a warmer layer useful, rather than packing on the assumption that May will feel like home.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming in May?
The sea averages 8.7°C, so this is cold-water swimming rather than a comfortable holiday dip. If relaxed sea swimming is important to your trip, May is a poor fit. Plan to enjoy time beside the water without depending on getting in.
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 Bergen. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2 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