Your May weather guide
WarmWeather in Canary Islands in May
May is a good time to visit the Canary Islands if you want warm, dry weather rather than strong heat. Daytime highs average around 22°C, there is about 1 rainy day, and the sea sits at 20°C. That makes it a sensible choice for spending time outdoors without planning everything around the heat. The catch is swimming: the water is bracing, and evenings call for a light layer rather than just summer clothes.
Long-term climate averages for Maspalomas (Gran Canaria), not a forecast · 1991-2020
Canary Islands, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Maspalomas (Gran Canaria).
- Average daytime high
- 21.6°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 24°C
- Average night-time low
- 17.7°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 16°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +5.0°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sea temperature
- 20.0°C
- year to year: 19°C to 21°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 8.8h
- 66% of 13.4 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 1
- 4 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 72%
- Days over 25°C
- 6%
- 1% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 37.0°C
- 2020-05-23
- Record low 1991-2020
- 12.3°C
- 2019-05-06
- Flight from London
- ≈ 4 h 24 min
- 2904 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 7th warmest month of the year in Canary Islands. Within Spain it is 55th of 87 (Spain in May). Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Canary Islands is 5.0°C warmer by day and 9.4°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Canary Islands peaks at 21.6°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 23.8°C or more. Roughly 1 in 16 days top 25°C and 1 in 111 pass 30°C. Nights average 17.7°C; one night in ten drops to 15.9°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 37.0°C (2020-05-23) and the coldest night 12.3°C (2019-05-06).
Rain in May
Dry (3 rainy days or fewer): about 1 days with 1 mm or more, 4 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2008 with 32 mm, the driest 1991 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 72%.
Sea temperature in May
The sea averages 20.0°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 19.3°C to 20.7°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (23.4°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 8.8 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 13.4 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:13 and sets about 20:44 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 35%.
Is May a good time to visit Canary Islands?
It is a reasonable choice: warm days. The best months for Canary Islands on our scoring are July, August, September; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug, Sep.
Comfortable days, with a layer for evenings
Expect warmth that is more suited to being out and about than sitting still in intense heat. The average daytime high is 21.6°C, compared with London's 16.6°C in May, so there is a noticeable step up from home without reliably hot conditions. Pack light clothes for daytime, but keep a jumper or light jacket handy after sunset: average night lows are 17.7°C, with the coldest nights falling to around 16°C or below. May suits travellers who prefer moderate warmth and do not need every day to feel hot. Midday is a sensible time for relaxing outside, though sunscreen and shade still belong in your plans.
Plenty of outdoor time, but bracing swims
Rain is unlikely to dominate a May holiday, so there is little reason to build your plans around wet weather. Sunshine averages about 8.8 hours within 13.4 hours of daylight, leaving plenty of time outdoors, though that does not mean clear skies throughout the day. The bigger compromise is the sea. At an average of 20°C, it is bracing rather than comfortably warm, so shorter dips may appeal more than lingering swims. The year-to-year range of 19°C to 21°C does not change that judgement much. If swimming is central to your holiday, weigh that carefully; if you mainly want dry weather and time outside, May is an easier fit.
A little perspective
Canary Islands 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 | 19.1°C | 15.7°C | 19.5°C | 6.4 | 15 | 3 | 0% |
| February | 19.2°C | 15.6°C | 18.8°C | 7.1 | 20 | 3 | 2% |
| March | 19.9°C | 16.0°C | 18.8°C | 7.6 | 16 | 3 | 4% |
| April | 20.4°C | 16.6°C | 19.2°C | 8.0 | 10 | 3 | 3% |
| MaySelected | 21.6°C | 17.7°C | 20.0°C | 8.8 | 4 | 1 | 6% |
| June | 23.3°C | 19.4°C | 21.1°C | 10.1 | 2 | 1 | 17% |
| Julybest | 25.1°C | 20.9°C | 21.9°C | 11.1 | 0 | 0 | 45% |
| Augustbest | 25.9°C | 21.9°C | 22.8°C | 10.4 | 1 | 0 | 58% |
| Septemberbest | 25.3°C | 21.5°C | 23.4°C | 8.6 | 6 | 1 | 53% |
| October | 24.2°C | 20.5°C | 23.2°C | 7.0 | 17 | 4 | 29% |
| November | 22.0°C | 18.7°C | 22.1°C | 6.0 | 17 | 4 | 10% |
| December | 20.2°C | 16.9°C | 20.6°C | 6.1 | 30 | 5 | 1% |
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
Canary Islands in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Canary Islands hot in May?
Canary Islands is warm in May: the average daytime high is 21.6°C and nights average 17.7°C. Roughly 1 in 16 May days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Canary Islands in May?
The sea around Canary Islands averages 20.0°C in May, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 19°C to 21°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Canary Islands in May?
Canary Islands sees about 1 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 4 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 2008 (32 mm) and the driest was 1991 (0 mm).
How sunny is Canary Islands in May?
Canary Islands gets around 8.8 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 13.4 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Canary Islands compare with the UK in May?
Canary Islands is on average 5.0°C warmer than London by day in May (21.6°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Canary Islands?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Canary Islands reached 37.0°C on 2020-05-23, and the coldest night dropped to 12.3°C on 2019-05-06.
Is May hot enough for a hot-weather holiday?
May is warm rather than reliably hot. Only 6% of days reach 25°C, and 1% reach 30°C. It suits you better if comfortable outdoor weather matters more than high temperatures; do not book expecting strong heat every day.
Would it be better to wait until summer?
July, August and September are the stronger choices overall for weather here. May still makes sense if you prefer moderate warmth and dry conditions. The main reason to reconsider is if genuinely hot days are essential to your holiday.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London takes about 4 h 24 min, making this a short-haul option for warmer May weather. The appeal is a noticeable increase in daytime warmth, rather than a guarantee of summer 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 Maspalomas (Maspalomas (Gran Canaria)). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 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