Weather in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in May

How May compares

May is the 7th warmest month of the year in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Within Spain it is 65th of 87 (Spain in May). Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Santa Cruz de Tenerife is 4.6°C warmer by day and 9.7°C warmer at night.

Daytime and night-time in May

The typical May day in Santa Cruz de Tenerife peaks at 21.2°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 23.1°C or more. Roughly 1 in 40 days top 25°C and 1 in 1000 pass 30°C. Nights average 18.0°C; one night in ten drops to 16.4°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 30.0°C (2020-05-26) and the coldest night 13.3°C (2019-05-05).

Rain in May

Dry (3 rainy days or fewer): about 2 days with 1 mm or more, 7 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2018 with 20 mm, the driest 2001 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 75%.

Sea temperature in May

The sea averages 20.1°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 19.4°C to 20.7°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (23.7°C).

Sunshine and daylight

Around 7.2 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 13.4 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:14 and sets about 20:48 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 46%.

Is May a good time to visit Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

It is a reasonable choice: warm days. The best months for Santa Cruz de Tenerife on our scoring are August, July, September; months averaging 25°C or more: Aug, Sep.

Comfortable warmth, not hot-weather certainty

Expect warmth that is generally easy to spend time outdoors in, rather than the sort of heat that dictates your whole day. Only 2% of days reach 25°C, so May is not the strongest choice if hot afternoons are essential. Light tops and trousers or shorts are sensible daytime options, with a light jumper for sitting outside after dark. Average night lows of 18°C sound mild, but cooler nights can fall to around 16°C or below. Keep a layer handy rather than packing solely for summer heat. There is little reason to plan everything around avoiding midday, though sun protection still makes sense.

Little rain, with room for cloud

Rain is unlikely to dominate your plans: May has about 2 rainy days, making it a reasonable choice for spending much of the holiday outside. That is not a promise of uninterrupted sunshine, however. Around 7.2 hours of sunshine sit within 13.4 hours of daylight, so allow for cloud as well as clear spells. You can keep plans flexible without building the whole trip around indoor alternatives. A light shower layer is a sensible precaution, rather than heavy waterproof clothing. The long daylight window also gives you scope to head out later if you prefer a slower start to the day.

The sea is the main compromise

Sea temperatures average 20.1°C, with a year-to-year range of 19°C to 21°C, so expect a noticeable chill when you get in. That may be fine for a brief dip if you are comfortable in cooler water, but it is less appealing for lingering in the sea. If swimming is central to your holiday, take this trade-off seriously rather than assuming warm air means warm water. Bring something dry to put on afterwards, especially if you plan to stay outside into the evening. May makes more sense for travellers who see swimming as an option than those who want it to anchor every day.