Your May weather guide
MildWeather in Menorca in May
May is a good choice for Menorca if you want mild days rather than a hot beach holiday. Average daytime highs are 19°C, the sea is a cold 17.8°C, and there are about 4 rainy days during the month. For a UK traveller, that means a modest lift in warmth, not a leap into summer. It suits walking and spending time outdoors more than long swims, with layers still useful when you stop moving or head out in the evening.
Long-term climate averages for Mahon (Mao), not a forecast · 1991-2020
Menorca, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Mahon (Mao).
- Average daytime high
- 19.2°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 22°C
- Average night-time low
- 16.0°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 14°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +2.6°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sea temperature
- 17.8°C
- year to year: 17°C to 19°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 8.4h
- 59% of 14.2 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 4
- 23 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 77%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 27.2°C
- 2020-05-21
- Record low 1991-2020
- 10.3°C
- 1991-05-06
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 24 min
- 1299 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 Menorca and ranks 128th of 134 destinations we compare for May - see where else is hot in May. Within Spain it is 85th of 87 (Spain in May). Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Menorca is 2.6°C warmer by day and 7.7°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Menorca peaks at 19.2°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 21.7°C or more. Roughly 1 in 333 days top 25°C. Nights average 16.0°C; one night in ten drops to 13.7°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 27.2°C (2020-05-21) and the coldest night 10.3°C (1991-05-06).
Rain in May
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 4 days with 1 mm or more, 23 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2018 with 64 mm, the driest 1994 with 2 mm. Humidity averages 77%.
Sea temperature in May
The sea averages 17.8°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 17.0°C to 18.6°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.0°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 8.4 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 14.2 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:28 and sets about 20:51 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 41%.
Is May a good time to visit Menorca?
It is a reasonable choice: mild days. The best months for Menorca on our scoring are July, August, September; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug.
Comfortable for exploring, less convincing for heat
Menorca is warmer than London in May, but the average daytime difference is only 2.6°C, so keep expectations realistic. Think light clothing with a layer to hand, rather than packing only for heat. Warmer days reach around 22°C, while the average night low is 16°C and colder nights can fall to around 14°C or below. A jumper or light jacket makes sense for evenings outdoors. The mild temperatures suit travellers who find hotter weather tiring, and there is less reason to organise everything around avoiding midday heat. If reliable warmth for sitting still in beachwear is the priority, May is a compromise.
Beach time needs a different plan from swimming
The sea is the main catch: at an average of 17.8°C, it is cold rather than comfortably swimmable. The May range of 17°C to 19°C suggests you should not rely on a warmer year turning it into warm water. Plan beach time around relaxing or walking, with swimming an optional brief dip if you tolerate cold water. Rain is another reason to keep plans flexible, although about 4 rainy days does not make this a persistently wet month. Pack a light waterproof and leave room to move outdoor plans around showers. May works better if a swim is a bonus rather than the point of the trip.
A little perspective
Menorca 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 | 13.4°C | 10.9°C | 14.5°C | 4.6 | 51 | 9 | 0% |
| February | 13.1°C | 10.3°C | 13.8°C | 5.4 | 42 | 7 | 0% |
| March | 14.4°C | 11.5°C | 14.0°C | 6.7 | 35 | 5 | 0% |
| April | 16.2°C | 13.2°C | 15.2°C | 7.3 | 35 | 6 | 0% |
| MaySelected | 19.2°C | 16.0°C | 17.8°C | 8.4 | 23 | 4 | 0% |
| June | 23.1°C | 19.7°C | 21.5°C | 10.9 | 12 | 2 | 18% |
| Julybest | 25.9°C | 22.6°C | 24.6°C | 12.3 | 5 | 1 | 73% |
| Augustbest | 26.8°C | 23.6°C | 26.0°C | 10.7 | 9 | 2 | 87% |
| Septemberbest | 24.3°C | 21.4°C | 24.8°C | 7.4 | 41 | 6 | 39% |
| October | 21.2°C | 18.5°C | 22.3°C | 5.5 | 61 | 8 | 2% |
| November | 17.3°C | 14.7°C | 19.0°C | 4.5 | 76 | 10 | 0% |
| December | 14.7°C | 12.2°C | 16.3°C | 4.4 | 54 | 8 | 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
Menorca in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Menorca hot in May?
Menorca is mild in May: the average daytime high is 19.2°C and nights average 16.0°C. Roughly 1 in 333 May days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Menorca in May?
The sea around Menorca averages 17.8°C in May, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 17°C to 19°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Menorca in May?
Menorca sees about 4 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 23 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 2018 (64 mm) and the driest was 1994 (2 mm).
How sunny is Menorca in May?
Menorca gets around 8.4 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 14.2 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Menorca compare with the UK in May?
Menorca is on average 2.6°C warmer than London by day in May (19.2°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Menorca?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Menorca reached 27.2°C on 2020-05-21, and the coldest night dropped to 10.3°C on 1991-05-06.
How much sunshine can I expect?
May averages about 8.4 hours of sunshine within 14.2 hours of daylight. That gives you a long window for outdoor plans, but not clear skies throughout the day. Sunny weather also does not necessarily mean hot air or warm sea water.
Would a later month be a better choice?
July, August and September are stronger choices overall for Menorca holiday weather. May makes more sense if mild temperatures appeal and swimming is not essential. If warmth is central to your holiday, consider those later months instead.
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 Maó (Mahon (Mao)). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 1.7 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