May is one of the warmer months of the year in Quebec City, with average highs near 14.7°C and lows around 4°C (mean 9.4°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 102 mm of rainfall and 81% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Quebec City. Across 45 years of records, the warmest Mays in Quebec City were 1998 and 1999 — when the month averaged 12.2°C — while the coldest was 1997 at 6.5°C. Typical May days reach 14.7°C with nights near 4°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
May is about average for rainfall in Quebec City, averaging 102 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1983 with 251 mm, while the driest was 1982 at 46 mm.
Relative humidity in Quebec City during May averages 81%. The most humid May was 1989 at 86%, and the least humid was 1992 at 76%.
May receives about 5.2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Quebec City. The sunniest Mays were 1999, 2018 and 2020 at 6.2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 4.1.
Average wind speed in Quebec City during May is 1.2 m/s. The windiest Mays were 2015, 2017 and 2023, among others at 1.3 m/s, while the calmest was 2003 at 0.9 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 8.9°C | 9.2°C | 8.8°C | 10.1°C | 10.2°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg High | 14.2°C | 14.6°C | 14.1°C | 15.5°C | 15.6°C | +1.4°C |
| Avg Low | 3.6°C | 3.7°C | 3.6°C | 4.7°C | 4.7°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 133 mm | 89 mm | 82 mm | 115 mm | 88 mm | -45 mm |
May temperatures in Quebec City have risen by about 2.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -4.6°C (1986) to a record high of 26.5°C (2020).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 102 mm, with a wettest year of 251 mm.
A good time to visit Quebec City
May is a good time to visit Quebec City, with days averaging 14.7°C and nights around 4°C (mean 9.4°C, warmer than Quebec City's yearly average) and higher rainfall. July and August are marginally more temperate, but May still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15.5°C | 10.4°C | 5.3°C | 22.7°C | -2.8°C | 96 mm | 81% | 1.2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2024 | 16.8°C | 11.8°C | 6.8°C | 25.5°C | -0.5°C | 95 mm | 82% | 1.1 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2023 | 15.2°C | 9.3°C | 3.4°C | 25.3°C | -3.2°C | 61 mm | 77% | 1.3 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2022 | 17.0°C | 11.2°C | 5.4°C | 23.5°C | -2.9°C | 138 mm | 80% | 1.1 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2021 | 15.0°C | 9.6°C | 4.2°C | 24.2°C | -3.8°C | 75 mm | 78% | 1.2 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2020 | 14.3°C | 8.7°C | 3.2°C | 26.5°C | -3.1°C | 66 mm | 79% | 1.2 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2019 | 13.0°C | 7.7°C | 2.3°C | 19.8°C | -4.3°C | 96 mm | 80% | 1.1 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2018 | 15.7°C | 9.5°C | 3.4°C | 25.4°C | -3.1°C | 81 mm | 79% | 1.2 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2017 | 14.0°C | 9.5°C | 5.1°C | 24.3°C | -1.1°C | 131 mm | 85% | 1.3 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2016 | 16.1°C | 10.3°C | 4.5°C | 24.0°C | -2.8°C | 102 mm | 81% | 1.2 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2015 | 16.9°C | 11.2°C | 5.5°C | 22.8°C | -2.8°C | 133 mm | 81% | 1.3 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2014 | 15.0°C | 9.9°C | 4.8°C | 23.9°C | -0.6°C | 97 mm | 84% | 1.1 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2013 | 16.4°C | 11.1°C | 5.8°C | 24.3°C | -1.2°C | 165 mm | 81% | 1.2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2012 | 16.9°C | 11.5°C | 6.0°C | 24.6°C | -0.5°C | 104 mm | 81% | 1 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2011 | 14.2°C | 9.5°C | 4.8°C | 21.7°C | -0.9°C | 165 mm | 86% | 1.3 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2010 | 16.8°C | 11.0°C | 5.1°C | 26.1°C | -2.9°C | 72 mm | 77% | 1.1 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2009 | 13.4°C | 8.2°C | 2.9°C | 22.4°C | -2.0°C | 112 mm | 80% | 1.3 m/s | 5 |
| 2008 | 13.7°C | 8.6°C | 3.4°C | 19.4°C | -2.8°C | 59 mm | 78% | 1.1 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2007 | 15.2°C | 9.2°C | 3.2°C | 25.9°C | -2.7°C | 47 mm | 77% | 1.2 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2006 | 15.4°C | 10.7°C | 6.0°C | 24.5°C | -1.9°C | 87 mm | 84% | 1.2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2005 | 11.9°C | 7.5°C | 3.2°C | 20.6°C | -3.3°C | 47 mm | 82% | 1.2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2004 | 14.1°C | 8.6°C | 3.1°C | 22.2°C | -4.3°C | 94 mm | 80% | 1.2 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2003 | 14.4°C | 9.0°C | 3.6°C | 24.6°C | -3.6°C | 69 mm | 78% | 0.9 m/s | 5 |
| 2002 | 12.2°C | 7.1°C | 1.9°C | 21.7°C | -3.0°C | 107 mm | 80% | 1.3 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2001 | 17.2°C | 11.5°C | 5.7°C | 22.4°C | -0.6°C | 60 mm | 78% | 1 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2000 | 13.0°C | 8.0°C | 2.9°C | 21.3°C | -2.9°C | 138 mm | 83% | 1.1 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1999 | 18.0°C | 12.2°C | 6.3°C | 25.6°C | -2.2°C | 67 mm | 78% | 1 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1998 🔥 | 17.6°C | 12.2°C | 6.7°C | 23.1°C | 1.0°C | 71 mm | 81% | 1.2 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1997 ❄️ | 11.1°C | 6.5°C | 1.9°C | 19.3°C | -4.4°C | 125 mm | 83% | 1.3 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1996 | 13.0°C | 7.7°C | 2.5°C | 22.8°C | -2.7°C | 92 mm | 79% | 1.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1995 | 14.3°C | 9.0°C | 3.7°C | 20.2°C | -4.6°C | 120 mm | 81% | 1 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1994 | 13.6°C | 8.0°C | 2.5°C | 22.6°C | -3.4°C | 93 mm | 79% | 1.2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1993 | 14.7°C | 9.5°C | 4.3°C | 19.6°C | 0.4°C | 93 mm | 81% | 1.1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1992 | 15.2°C | 8.9°C | 2.7°C | 24.0°C | -3.7°C | 49 mm | 76% | 1.2 m/s | 6 |
| 1991 | 15.5°C | 9.9°C | 4.2°C | 22.2°C | -1.8°C | 95 mm | 80% | 1.2 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1990 | 12.9°C | 7.6°C | 2.4°C | 20.1°C | -2.6°C | 83 mm | 79% | 1.2 m/s | 5 |
| 1989 | 15.6°C | 10.8°C | 6.0°C | 24.4°C | -2.1°C | 165 mm | 86% | 1.1 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1988 | 15.1°C | 9.9°C | 4.6°C | 20.4°C | -1.7°C | 60 mm | 81% | 1.1 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1987 | 14.4°C | 8.4°C | 2.4°C | 23.8°C | -3.9°C | 110 mm | 79% | 1.2 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1986 | 14.9°C | 9.7°C | 4.6°C | 23.3°C | -4.6°C | 190 mm | 82% | 1.3 m/s | 5 |
| 1985 | 13.3°C | 7.6°C | 1.9°C | 20.5°C | -4.0°C | 94 mm | 80% | 1.1 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1984 | 11.9°C | 7.5°C | 3.0°C | 20.6°C | -2.5°C | 140 mm | 83% | 1.3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1983 🌧️ | 11.8°C | 7.5°C | 3.1°C | 17.6°C | -2.9°C | 251 mm | 86% | 1.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 15.9°C | 9.7°C | 3.5°C | 23.3°C | -2.3°C | 46 mm | 80% | 1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 14.7°C | 9.2°C | 3.7°C | 22.3°C | -4.1°C | 142 mm | 83% | 1.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 14.7°C with lows near 4°C (mean 9.4°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 102 mm of rainfall in Quebec City, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 251 mm in 1983.
The hottest May reached 26.5°C in 2020. The coldest dipped to -4.6°C in 1986.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 2.2°C. Daytime highs moved from 13.5°C to 15.9°C and overnight lows from 3°C to 5°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Quebec City and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 14.7°C daytime highs and 4°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in Quebec City, averaging 9.4°C.
For May in Quebec City, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 14.7°C and lows of 4°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 81% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 1.2 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 1.3 m/s (1984).
The wettest May on record was 1983 with 251 mm. On average, May sees 102 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Quebec City behaves each May, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for May specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
