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Cardiff in May: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Planning a trip and want to know what the weather in Cardiff in May will be like? Take a look at our weather guide for Cardiff, based on historical data.
Check flight prices to Cardiff on Avionero:
May

Weather in Cardiff in May 2025

OK Weather
Mild
🌧️
Rainy
🌊
Cold water
If you plan to visit Cardiff in May, the weather is typically alright, with an average high temperature of +16°C during the day and approximately 5 sunny days. Expect some rainy, though, as there are typically 15 rainy days in the month and around 72 mm of precipitation. The weather is changeable so you may have to pack for every eventuality. Search flights in one click on Avionero.

Average weather

☀️
+16°C
Avg. max. temperature
0°C
Min.
+27°C
Max.
72 mm
Total precipitation
76%
Avg. humidity
4 m/s
Avg. wind
5 ☀️
Sunny Days
10 ⛅️
Cloudy
15 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Cardiff has OK weather in May.

Average temperature in Cardiff in May

Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Cardiff for May based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

Going from a maximum of +21°C during the day to a minimum of +5°C during the night, the temperature in May averages around +18°C.

The average maximum temperature goes up 0% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +19°C to +19°C.

Is Cardiff warm or cold in May?

Cardiff is typically mild in May.

Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +13°C to +16°C. The minimum temperature also goes up from +6°C to +9°C.

Pack a light jacket as it will be warm in the day and cool in the evenings.

Take a look at how May is compared to other months in Cardiff:

Water temperature in Cardiff in May

Water in Cardiff in May is Cold. It varies from +10°C to +13°C, with an average of +11°C. This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +16°C.

In May, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:

The warmest water temperatures in Cardiff are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +17°C. The coldest water temperatures are in March, with an average of +8°C.

Can you swim in Cardiff in May?

We would not recommend swimming in Cardiff in May, the water is very cold (+11°C on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +16°C
🏄‍♂️
Fresh
16°C - 21°C
🏊
Comfortable
21°C - 25°C
👙
Warm
25°C - 28°C
🔥
Very warm
+28°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.

Climate in Cardiff in May

Cardiff weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
AprilMayJune
Avg. temperature
+13°C+16°C+19°C
Min. temperature
-2°C0°C+3°C
Max. temperature
+25°C+27°C+30°C
Rainfall
63 mm72 mm74 mm
Wind
4 m/s4 m/s4 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+10°C+11°C+14°C
Humidity
76%76%77%
Air pressure
1014 HPa1014 HPa1015 HPa
Sunny days
554
Cloudy days
101010
Rainy days
151515
Snowy days
000

May weather is still as ok as in April. It’s getting warmer as May arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +13°C to +16°C during the day. Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 63 mm to 72 mm. Humidity levels don’t change as the month goes on, averaging around 76%. The average wind speed doesn’t change much during May, staying around 4 m/s. The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 5 sunny days during the month.

June brings much the same weather, it remains ok.

Wind

Wind speed in Cardiff in May based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The average wind speed is 4 m/s getting up to 7 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.

The average wind speed in Cardiff is gradually increasing during May, going from 4 m/s to 6 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during May in Cardiff based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 29% chance of rain on an average day in May, with total rainfall of approximately 53 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 15 mm, which is considered light rain. On average, there are about 9 rainy days during May, so prepare to bring an umbrella.
Here’s how May is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Cardiff wettest month is October, where a typical day has a 65% chance of precipitation and 119 mm of rainfall per day. April, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 50% chance of precipitation and 63 mm of rainfall per day.

How was the weather last May in Cardiff?

This is the weather in Cardiff in May 2023:
1 May
☁️
+19°C
2 May
☁️
+18°C
3 May
☁️
+18°C
4 May
🌧️
+17°C
5 May
🌧️
+17°C
6 May
🌧️
+16°C
7 May
☁️
+19°C
8 May
🌧️
+15°C
9 May
🌧️
+16°C
10 May
☁️
+17°C
11 May
☁️
+16°C
12 May
☁️
+17°C
13 May
☀️
+20°C
14 May
☁️
+18°C
15 May
☁️
+18°C
16 May
☀️
+17°C
17 May
☁️
+18°C
18 May
☁️
+19°C
19 May
☁️
+20°C
20 May
☀️
+19°C
21 May
☀️
+19°C
22 May
☀️
+20°C
23 May
☁️
+18°C
24 May
☀️
+20°C
25 May
☀️
+20°C
26 May
☀️
+19°C
27 May
☀️
+20°C
28 May
☀️
+20°C
29 May
☁️
+19°C
30 May
☀️
+21°C
31 May
☁️
+19°C
In May 2023 Cardiff had 11 sunny days, 15 cloudy days, and 5 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +18°C, with an absolute maximum of +21°C and a minimum of +15°C. The average humidity was 78%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 45%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 10 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?

Climate Change over Years

This is how Cardiff climate have been changing during last 43 years period.

The climate in Cardiff in May has not changed much over the last 43 years.

The average temperature was the lowest in 1979 (+12°C) and the highest in 2022 (+16°C). The driest year was 2010 with only 736 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2022 with 1906 mm.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Cardiff in May:

Is May a good time to visit Cardiff?

It’s always a good time to visit Cardiff, but the weather is changeable in May, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.

Can you sunbathe in Cardiff in May?

May has mild temperatures in Cardiff. Not ideal for sunbathing, but still good for daytime outdoor activities, but plan for cool evenings. Pack a light jacket and shorts!

Can you swim in Cardiff in May?

Swimming in Cardiff in May is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.

Is Cardiff rainy in May?

Cardiff is often rainy in May. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.

Is it sunny in Cardiff in May?

Usually, it’s not very sunny in Cardiff in May, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.

Other cities in United Kingdom

Check out the weather for other cities in United Kingdom.

Monthly weather in Cardiff

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Cardiff, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.

For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.