San Francisco · SpringMonth summary
San Francisco weather in May
✅ Good
🌡️ Temperature min / max
52°F – 61°F
🌧 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
Spring marks the start of the good season in San Francisco. Temperatures rise (16°F) 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.
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All months for San Francisco
Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °F | Max °F | Rain % | Precip in | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⛅ January | 46°F | 57°F | 34% | 0.2in | 8.0h | 5.4/10 |
| ⛅ February | 46°F | 57°F | 29% | 0.1in | 9.4h | 6.4/10 |
| ⛅ March | 48°F | 57°F | 36% | 0.1in | 10.6h | 6.4/10 |
| ⛅ April | 50°F | 59°F | 15% | 0.0in | 11.9h | 7.2/10 |
| ⛅ May | 52°F | 61°F | 8% | 0.0in | 12.9h | 7.5/10 |
| 🌤️ June | 54°F | 64°F | 1% | 0.0in | 13.7h | 8.0/10 |
| 🌤️ July | 55°F | 64°F | 0% | 0.0in | 13.0h | 7.9/10 |
| 🌤️ August | 57°F | 66°F | 1% | 0.0in | 12.1h | 8.0/10 |
| 🌤️ September | 57°F | 68°F | 4% | 0.0in | 11.3h | 8.0/10 |
| 🌤️ October | 55°F | 66°F | 10% | 0.0in | 9.9h | 7.6/10 |
| ⛅ November | 50°F | 61°F | 23% | 0.1in | 8.8h | 7.0/10 |
| ⛅ December | 46°F | 55°F | 32% | 0.2in | 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 61°F, 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°F
- 🌧 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 61°F, 12.9h of sunshine and 8% rain, conditions are very favourable.
What to do in San Francisco in May?
With 61°F max and 12.9h of sunshine, focus on cultural sites, museums and local gastronomy.
Accommodation
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Activities & tours
Activities and tours in San Francisco
Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and local experiences.
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