Edinburgh · SpringMonth summary
Edinburgh weather in May
⚠️ Fair
🌡️ Temperature min / max
8°C – 14°C
🌧 Rainy days
40% of days
☀️ Sunshine
11.3h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Spring
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
6.6/10
📅 📅 Best month
June (7.0/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Edinburgh in May?
⚠️ Fair
✅ Yes if: you prefer museums and gastronomy — it's cool at 14°C.
❌ No if: you're looking for beach weather — it's not the right season.
Our take: Not the best window: 40% rain risk and 11.3h of sunshine. June is much safer.
By trip type
Edinburgh in May by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ✅ Good
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ⚠️ Possible
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : ❌ Not recommended
- 💰 💰 Budget : 💸 Peak season
Local context
What to expect in May
🎯 Good family period — decent temperatures and sites accessible without crowds Spring marks the start of the good season in Edinburgh. Temperatures rise (14°C) and tourists have not yet arrived en masse. Expect rain on 40% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended. Not the best window, but acceptable if dates are constrained. June (7.0/10) is significantly better if possible.
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Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °C | Max °C | Rain % | Precip mm | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌦️ January | 2°C | 6°C | 42% | 2.4 | 3.4h | 2.4/10 |
| 🌦️ February | 2°C | 7°C | 48% | 2.7 | 5.3h | 3.0/10 |
| 🌦️ March | 3°C | 9°C | 47% | 2.4 | 6.8h | 4.0/10 |
| 🌦️ April | 4°C | 11°C | 38% | 1.7 | 10.4h | 5.5/10 |
| 🌦️ May | 8°C | 14°C | 40% | 2.2 | 11.3h | 6.6/10 |
| 🌦️ June | 10°C | 16°C | 47% | 2.6 | 11.9h | 7.0/10 |
| 🌦️ July | 12°C | 18°C | 53% | 2.9 | 11.2h | 7.0/10 |
| 🌦️ August | 12°C | 18°C | 47% | 2.6 | 10.6h | 7.0/10 |
| 🌦️ September | 10°C | 16°C | 46% | 2.6 | 8.2h | 6.0/10 |
| 🌦️ October | 8°C | 12°C | 52% | 3.2 | 5.1h | 4.0/10 |
| 🌦️ November | 4°C | 9°C | 47% | 2.7 | 4.5h | 3.4/10 |
| 🌦️ December | 3°C | 7°C | 47% | 3.0 | 2.2h | 1.8/10 |
Ideal
Fair
Challenging climate
◀ Current month · Source Open-Meteo · 10 years
📊 Data source
Data based on 10 years of ERA5 records via Open-Meteo, with ECMWF seasonal adjustment. In May, Edinburgh averages 14°C, 40% rainy days and 11.3h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 6.6/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
May vs June (best month)
The best month is June (score 7.0/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +2°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : +7%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +0.6h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Edinburgh in May
Is May a good time to visit Edinburgh?
May is an acceptable time for Edinburgh (score 6.6/10). Conditions are decent but not optimal — consider June (7.0/10) if possible.
What's the weather like in Edinburgh in May?
It's cool with 14°C daytime and 8°C at night. 11.3h of sunshine per day. Pack warm clothes and favour indoor visits.
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