Your May weather guide
WarmWeather in Alicante in May
May is a good time to visit Alicante if you want warm days rather than strong summer heat. Average daytime highs are around 23°C, with nights cooling to about 15°C, so pack for lighter clothing by day and an extra layer after dark. The main catch is the sea: at 18.5°C, it is bracing rather than comfortably warm. Expect some rain, but there is plenty of sunshine for spending time outdoors.
Long-term climate averages for Alicante, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Alicante, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Alicante.
- Average daytime high
- 22.8°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 26°C
- Average night-time low
- 15.3°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 12°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +6.2°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sea temperature
- 18.5°C
- year to year: 18°C to 19°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 8.1h
- 57% of 14.1 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 6
- 35 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 66%
- Days over 25°C
- 21%
- 0% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 33.6°C
- 2015-05-14
- Record low 1991-2020
- 8.8°C
- 1991-05-03
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 30 min
- 1424 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 6th warmest month of the year in Alicante and ranks 70th of 134 destinations we compare for May - see where else is hot in May. Within Spain it is 24th of 87 (Spain in May). Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Alicante is 6.2°C warmer by day and 7.0°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Alicante peaks at 22.8°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 26.0°C or more. Roughly 1 in 5 days top 25°C and 1 in 500 pass 30°C. Nights average 15.3°C; one night in ten drops to 12.3°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 33.6°C (2015-05-14) and the coldest night 8.8°C (1991-05-03).
Rain in May
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 6 days with 1 mm or more, 35 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2008 with 117 mm, the driest 2017 with 2 mm. Humidity averages 66%.
Sea temperature in May
The sea averages 18.5°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 17.6°C to 19.4°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.5°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 8.1 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 14.1 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:51 and sets about 21:06 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 43%.
Is May a good time to visit Alicante?
It is a reasonable choice: warm days. The best months for Alicante on our scoring are July, June, August; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Warm afternoons, cooler evenings
May suits travellers who want to spend time outside without making intense heat the focus of their holiday. Days reach 25°C about 21% of the time, so warmer afternoons are possible, but do not plan on every day feeling like summer. Light tops and trousers or shorts give you flexibility, while a jumper or light jacket makes sense for evenings. The coldest 10% of nights fall to 12.3°C or below, which could feel cool if you are sitting outdoors. Keep sunscreen and a hat handy for the middle of the day, even when the air feels comfortable. This is a better fit for gentle warmth than reliably hot sunbathing weather.
Plenty of daylight, but keep plans flexible
With about 8.1 hours of sunshine within 14.1 hours of daylight, May gives you a long window for outdoor plans, though not uninterrupted blue skies. There are about 6 rainy days, so bring a light waterproof and leave room to rearrange weather-dependent outings. Rain is a consideration rather than a reason to rule the month out; equally, a completely dry stay is not something to count on. Swimming needs a separate judgement from the air temperature. The sea averages 18.5°C, with a year-to-year range of 18°C to 19°C, so even a warm afternoon does not mean warm water. If you enjoy a brisk dip, that may be fine. If leisurely sea swimming is central to your holiday, May is a compromise.
A little perspective
Alicante 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 | 15.2°C | 8.0°C | 14.6°C | 5.4 | 34 | 5 | 0% |
| February | 15.8°C | 8.3°C | 13.9°C | 6.0 | 29 | 5 | 0% |
| March | 17.9°C | 10.2°C | 14.4°C | 6.5 | 39 | 6 | 1% |
| April | 19.9°C | 12.2°C | 15.8°C | 7.1 | 45 | 7 | 2% |
| MaySelected | 22.8°C | 15.3°C | 18.5°C | 8.1 | 35 | 6 | 21% |
| Junebest | 26.7°C | 19.2°C | 22.2°C | 10.5 | 16 | 3 | 77% |
| Julybest | 29.3°C | 21.9°C | 25.3°C | 11.9 | 5 | 2 | 99% |
| Augustbest | 29.7°C | 22.6°C | 26.5°C | 10.0 | 14 | 3 | 99% |
| September | 26.8°C | 20.1°C | 24.9°C | 7.1 | 47 | 7 | 78% |
| October | 23.2°C | 16.4°C | 22.0°C | 5.9 | 44 | 7 | 28% |
| November | 18.7°C | 12.0°C | 18.8°C | 5.3 | 42 | 6 | 2% |
| December | 15.9°C | 9.1°C | 16.2°C | 5.0 | 32 | 5 | 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
Alicante in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Alicante hot in May?
Alicante is warm in May: the average daytime high is 22.8°C and nights average 15.3°C. Roughly 1 in 5 May days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Alicante in May?
The sea around Alicante averages 18.5°C in May, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 18°C to 19°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Alicante in May?
Alicante sees about 6 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 35 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 2008 (117 mm) and the driest was 2017 (2 mm).
How sunny is Alicante in May?
Alicante gets around 8.1 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 14.1 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Alicante compare with the UK in May?
Alicante is on average 6.2°C warmer than London by day in May (22.8°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Alicante?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Alicante reached 33.6°C on 2015-05-14, and the coldest night dropped to 8.8°C on 1991-05-03.
How much warmer is Alicante than London in May?
Alicante's average daytime high is 22.8°C, compared with 16.6°C in London - a difference of 6.2°C. That makes it a clear step up in daytime warmth, although Alicante's cooler nights still justify packing an extra layer.
Is May the best choice for hotter weather?
May is warm rather than reliably hot. June, July and August rate more favourably overall for weather here. Choose May if moderate warmth appeals; favour those summer months if heat matters more to you than comfortable conditions for being outdoors.
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 Alicante. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2.3 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