Your May weather guide
HotWeather in Florida in May
Florida in May suits travellers who want hot days and warm-water swimming, but it is less appealing if you dislike humidity or want reliably dry weather. Average highs are around 29°C, nights stay near 22°C and the sea averages about 27°C. That makes light clothing and swimming plans sensible, though rain needs room in your itinerary. Go for the warmth, rather than expecting clear skies throughout your stay or much cooling after sunset.
Long-term climate averages for Orlando, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Florida, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Orlando.
- Average daytime high
- 29.1°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 32°C
- Average night-time low
- 21.7°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 19°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +12.5°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sea temperature
- 26.8°C
- year to year: 26°C to 27°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 7.4h
- 55% of 13.4 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 11
- 86 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 71%
- Days over 25°C
- 97%
- 34% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 37.6°C
- 2019-05-28
- Record low 1991-2020
- 10.2°C
- 1992-05-08
- Flight from London
- ≈ 9 h 30 min
- 6988 km, long-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 Florida. Within United States it is 3rd of 6 (United States in May). Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Florida is 12.5°C warmer by day and 13.4°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Florida peaks at 29.1°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 31.6°C or more. About 97% of days top 25°C and 1 in 3 pass 30°C. Nights average 21.7°C; one night in ten drops to 19.1°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 37.6°C (2019-05-28) and the coldest night 10.2°C (1992-05-08).
Rain in May
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 11 days with 1 mm or more, 86 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2018 with 442 mm, the driest 1992 with 6 mm. Humidity averages 71%.
Sea temperature in May
The sea averages 26.8°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 25.8°C to 27.3°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (29.9°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 7.4 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 13.4 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:35 and sets about 20:09 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 45%.
Is May a good time to visit Florida?
Yes - it is one of the better months: hot days, manageable rain and long sunny days. The best months for Florida on our scoring are March, April, November; months averaging 25°C or more: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov.
Hot enough for swimming, less comfortable for rushing around
The heat is a substantial step up from a UK spring: Florida's average daytime high is 12.5°C above London's in May. Days reach 30°C on 34% of occasions, so plan active time for the cooler parts of the day and leave room for shade around midday. Humidity averages 71%, adding to the case for a slower pace, loose clothing and regular drinks. The sea is a clear strength, with temperatures ranging from 26°C to 27°C between years: swimming should feel warm rather than bracing. This suits travellers happy to organise their days around the heat, but is a less comfortable fit for anyone wanting mild conditions for long periods outdoors.
Expect sunshine, but keep outdoor plans flexible
May brings about 11 rainy days, so it is not a month to choose on the assumption that every day will be dry. A light waterproof and plans you can move around are more useful than a tightly fixed outdoor schedule. There is still about 7.4 hours of sunshine a day within 13.4 hours of daylight, leaving scope for time outside without expecting continuous sun. The catch is that these averages cannot tell you when rain will interrupt your stay, so avoid relying on a particular daily pattern. May makes sense if heat and a warm sea matter most; if you want a better overall weather balance, consider March, April or November.
A little perspective
Florida 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 | 21.9°C | 14.6°C | 23.9°C | 5.1 | 54 | 7 | 25% |
| February | 23.1°C | 15.6°C | 23.7°C | 5.8 | 46 | 7 | 38% |
| Marchbest | 24.9°C | 16.9°C | 24.2°C | 6.4 | 56 | 7 | 56% |
| Aprilbest | 27.1°C | 19.3°C | 25.4°C | 7.1 | 56 | 8 | 81% |
| MaySelected | 29.1°C | 21.7°C | 26.8°C | 7.4 | 86 | 11 | 97% |
| June | 30.1°C | 24.1°C | 28.5°C | 5.1 | 160 | 20 | 100% |
| July | 30.8°C | 24.9°C | 29.5°C | 5.1 | 138 | 21 | 100% |
| August | 30.6°C | 25.0°C | 29.9°C | 4.7 | 160 | 23 | 100% |
| September | 29.6°C | 24.3°C | 29.3°C | 4.4 | 152 | 20 | 100% |
| October | 27.7°C | 21.9°C | 28.0°C | 5.5 | 95 | 13 | 91% |
| Novemberbest | 25.1°C | 18.6°C | 26.3°C | 5.5 | 48 | 7 | 62% |
| December | 23.0°C | 16.2°C | 24.9°C | 5.1 | 48 | 7 | 38% |
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.
Cuba · 29°C by day · sea 27°C
Varadero
Mexico · 29°C by day · sea 28°C
Cancun
Mexico · 29°C by day · sea 28°C
Playa del Carmen
Mexico · 29°C by day · sea 28°C
Tulum
St Lucia · 29°C by day · sea 28°C
St Lucia
A little more detail
Florida in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Florida hot in May?
Florida is hot in May: the average daytime high is 29.1°C and nights average 21.7°C. About 97% of May days reach 25°C or more.
Can you swim in the sea in Florida in May?
The sea around Florida averages 26.8°C in May, which is warm enough for most people to swim comfortably. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 26°C to 27°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Florida in May?
Florida sees about 11 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 86 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 2018 (442 mm) and the driest was 1992 (6 mm).
How sunny is Florida in May?
Florida gets around 7.4 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 13.4 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Florida compare with the UK in May?
Florida is on average 12.5°C warmer than London by day in May (29.1°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Florida?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Florida reached 37.6°C on 2019-05-28, and the coldest night dropped to 10.2°C on 1992-05-08.
Will I need warm clothes in the evenings?
With average night lows around 22°C, May evenings are generally warm. Light clothing is the sensible starting point, though a light layer gives you flexibility: the coldest 10% of nights fall to about 19°C or below.
Is May the best month to choose for Florida's weather?
May is a good fit for heat and warm-water swimming, but March, April and November offer a better overall weather balance. Choose May if warmth is your priority and you are comfortable allowing for humidity and rainy days.
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 Orlando. 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