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Vancouver in May: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Discover the weather for Vancouver in May and if it’s a good time to travel (based on historical data).
Check flight prices to Vancouver on Avionero:
May

Weather in Vancouver in May 2025

Good Weather
Mild
🌧️
Rainy
🌊
Cold water
Weather for Vancouver in May is typically good with an average maximum temperature of +17°C during the day, and approximately 3 sunny days monthly. Typically, there are about 15 rainy days with the total average precipitation that falls in May around 104 mm. Expect good weather and pack accordingly to enjoy the outdoors. Search flights in one click on Avionero.

Average weather

☀️
+17°C
Avg. max. temperature
+2°C
Min.
+33°C
Max.
104 mm
Total precipitation
74%
Avg. humidity
3 m/s
Avg. wind
3 ☀️
Sunny Days
12 ⛅️
Cloudy
15 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Vancouver has good weather in May.

Average temperature in Vancouver in May

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

The expected average maximum temperature in May is +22°C with a maximum of +33°C and a minimum of +7°C.

The average maximum temperature goes up 8% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +16°C to +18°C.

Is Vancouver warm or cold in May?

Vancouver is typically mild in May.

Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +13°C to +17°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 Vancouver:

Water temperature in Vancouver in May

Water in Vancouver in May is Cold. It varies from +7°C to +10°C, with an average of +8°C. The air temperature averaging +17°C is higher than the water temperature.

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

The warmest water temperatures in Vancouver are reached in September, when the average sea temperature rises to +11°C. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +7°C.

Can you swim in Vancouver in May?

We would not recommend swimming in Vancouver in May, the water is very cold (+8°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 Vancouver in May

Vancouver weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
AprilMayJune
Avg. temperature
+13°C+17°C+20°C
Min. temperature
-1°C+2°C+6°C
Max. temperature
+26°C+33°C+40°C
Rainfall
159 mm104 mm82 mm
Wind
3 m/s3 m/s3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+7°C+8°C+9°C
Humidity
75%74%73%
Air pressure
1016 HPa1016 HPa1016 HPa
Sunny days
333
Cloudy days
81212
Rainy days
191514
Snowy days
000

May often has better weather than April. It’s getting warmer as May arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +13°C to +17°C during the day. As May arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 159 mm to 104 mm. It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 75% to 74%. The average wind speed doesn’t change much during May, staying around 3 m/s. The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 3 sunny days during the month.

June brings much the same weather, it remains good.

Wind

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

The average wind speed is 2 m/s getting up to 6 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.

The average wind speed in Vancouver is gradually increasing during May, going from 3 m/s to 3 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during May in Vancouver based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in May is about 33 mm, with a 19% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 19 mm, which is considered light rain. On average, there are about 6 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:
Vancouver wettest month is November, where a typical day has a 73% chance of precipitation and 300 mm of rainfall per day. July, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 32% chance of precipitation and 52 mm of rainfall per day.

How was the weather last May in Vancouver?

This is the weather in Vancouver in May 2023:
1 May
☁️
+16°C
2 May
☁️
+22°C
3 May
☀️
+23°C
4 May
☁️
+23°C
5 May
🌧️
+18°C
6 May
🌧️
+12°C
7 May
☁️
+15°C
8 May
☁️
+17°C
9 May
☁️
+17°C
10 May
☀️
+20°C
11 May
☀️
+24°C
12 May
☀️
+25°C
13 May
☁️
+29°C
14 May
☀️
+33°C
15 May
☀️
+32°C
16 May
☀️
+30°C
17 May
☀️
+25°C
18 May
☀️
+28°C
19 May
☀️
+26°C
20 May
☁️
+24°C
21 May
☁️
+23°C
22 May
🌧️
+18°C
23 May
🌧️
+16°C
24 May
☁️
+21°C
25 May
☀️
+24°C
26 May
☀️
+25°C
27 May
☀️
+24°C
28 May
☁️
+21°C
29 May
☀️
+21°C
30 May
☀️
+21°C
31 May
☁️
+18°C
In May 2023 Vancouver had 15 sunny days, 12 cloudy days, and 4 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +22°C, with an absolute maximum of +33°C and a minimum of +12°C. The average humidity was 74%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 33%. The average wind speed was 2 m/s, with a maximum of 11 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?

Climate Change over Years

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

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

The average temperature was the lowest in 1985 (+13°C) and the highest in 2023 (+16°C). The driest year was 1985 with only 1057 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2013 with 2802 mm.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Vancouver in May:

Is May a good time to visit Vancouver?

May is a really good time to go to Vancouver. The weather is nice so plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring. Check out other good time to visit Vancouver.

Can you sunbathe in Vancouver in May?

May has mild temperatures in Vancouver. 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 Vancouver in May?

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

Is Vancouver rainy in May?

Vancouver 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 Vancouver in May?

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

Other cities in Canada

Check out the weather for other cities in Canada.

Monthly weather in Vancouver

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Vancouver, 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.