San Francisco · SpringMonth summary
San Francisco weather in May
✅ Good
🌡️ Temperature min / max
11°C – 16°C
🌧 Rainy days
8% of days
☀️ Sunshine
12.9h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Spring
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
7.5/10
📅 📅 Best month
June (8.0/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit San Francisco in May?
✅ Good
✅ Yes if: you want to explore the city on foot without suffering from heat.
❌ No if: you're looking for a beach destination — water and air are still cool.
Our take: Favourable conditions in May (7.5/10). June scores higher but the gap is small.
By trip type
San Francisco in May by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ✅ Good
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ✅ Good
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : ❌ Not recommended
- 💰 💰 Budget : 🌿 Shoulder
Local context
What to expect in May
🎯 Open terraces and outdoor markets — best season for al fresco dining Spring marks the start of the good season in San Francisco. Temperatures rise (16°C) and tourists have not yet arrived en masse. Rain is virtually absent (8% of days) — ideal for planning without a backup. A good balance between weather and crowds, even if June (8.0/10) remains theoretically better.
Browse by month
All months for San Francisco
Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °C | Max °C | Rain % | Precip mm | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⛅ January | 8°C | 14°C | 34% | 4.1 | 8.0h | 5.4/10 |
| ⛅ February | 8°C | 14°C | 29% | 3.4 | 9.4h | 6.4/10 |
| ⛅ March | 9°C | 14°C | 36% | 3.3 | 10.6h | 6.4/10 |
| ⛅ April | 10°C | 15°C | 15% | 1.1 | 11.9h | 7.2/10 |
| ⛅ May | 11°C | 16°C | 8% | 0.6 | 12.9h | 7.5/10 |
| 🌤️ June | 12°C | 18°C | 1% | 0.0 | 13.7h | 8.0/10 |
| 🌤️ July | 13°C | 18°C | 0% | 0.0 | 13.0h | 7.9/10 |
| 🌤️ August | 14°C | 19°C | 1% | 0.0 | 12.1h | 8.0/10 |
| 🌤️ September | 14°C | 20°C | 4% | 0.1 | 11.3h | 8.0/10 |
| 🌤️ October | 13°C | 19°C | 10% | 1.0 | 9.9h | 7.6/10 |
| ⛅ November | 10°C | 16°C | 23% | 2.1 | 8.8h | 7.0/10 |
| ⛅ December | 8°C | 13°C | 32% | 4.3 | 8.0h | 5.3/10 |
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, San Francisco averages 16°C, 8% rainy days and 12.9h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 7.5/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
May vs June (best month)
The best month is June (score 8.0/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +2°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : -7%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +0.8h/day
FAQ
FAQ — San Francisco in May
Is May a good time to visit San Francisco?
May is an excellent time to visit San Francisco (score 7.5/10). With 16°C, 12.9h of sunshine and 8% rain, conditions are very favourable.
What to do in San Francisco in May?
With 16°C max and 12.9h of sunshine, focus on cultural sites, museums and local gastronomy.
Accommodation
Find a place to stay in San Francisco
Find places to stay in San Francisco in May
Search on Hotels.com
Activities & tours
Activities and tours in San Francisco
Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and local experiences.
Browse activities on GetYourGuide
Flights
Find a flight to San Francisco
Compare flights from all airlines.
Search flights
←
Explore also
Similar destinations in May
Beirut
Samos🌍 Top destinations
Other top destinations in May
Trinidad
Santiago
Socotra
Puerto Escondido
PantelleriaWeather rankings
Compare destinations by weather
Best in EuropeGuides & comparisons