May is one of the warmer months of the year in Vancouver, with average highs near 17.2°C and lows around 6.9°C (mean 12.1°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 85 mm of rainfall and 82% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Vancouver. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Vancouver was 2023 — when the month averaged 14.5°C — while the coldest was 2011 at 9.5°C. Typical May days reach 17.2°C with nights near 6.9°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
May is one of the drier months in Vancouver, averaging 85 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2022 with 184 mm, while the driest was 1992 at 12 mm.
Relative humidity in Vancouver during May averages 82%. The most humid May was 1998 at 88%, and the least humid was 1992 at 76%.
May receives about 5.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Vancouver. The sunniest May was 1992 at 6.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1991 at 4.1.
Average wind speed in Vancouver during May is 0.7 m/s. The windiest Mays were 2010, 2013 and 2022, among others at 0.8 m/s, while the calmest were 2018, 2019 and 2023, among others at 0.6 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 11.5°C | 11.9°C | 12.1°C | 12.4°C | 12.2°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg High | 16.7°C | 17.0°C | 17.3°C | 17.7°C | 17.5°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg Low | 6.3°C | 6.9°C | 6.9°C | 7.2°C | 7.0°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg Rain | 83 mm | 95 mm | 79 mm | 77 mm | 95 mm | +12 mm |
May temperatures in Vancouver have risen by about 0.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of -0.6°C (1985) to a record high of 33.9°C (2005).
Rainfall in May is one of the drier months, averaging 85 mm, with a wettest year of 184 mm.
A good time to visit Vancouver
May is a good time to visit Vancouver, with days averaging 17.2°C and nights around 6.9°C (mean 12.1°C, warmer than Vancouver's yearly average) and higher rainfall. August and July 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 | 17.3°C | 11.7°C | 6.1°C | 28.7°C | 0.3°C | 59 mm | 82% | 0.7 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2024 | 16.8°C | 11.6°C | 6.4°C | 30.5°C | 2.6°C | 113 mm | 82% | 0.7 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2023 🔥 | 20.2°C | 14.5°C | 8.8°C | 27.7°C | 4.8°C | 34 mm | 80% | 0.6 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2022 🌧️ | 14.9°C | 10.4°C | 5.9°C | 21.9°C | 0.7°C | 184 mm | 85% | 0.8 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2021 | 17.7°C | 12.3°C | 6.8°C | 25.4°C | 2.8°C | 56 mm | 82% | 0.7 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2020 | 17.9°C | 12.9°C | 7.9°C | 31.1°C | 2.7°C | 125 mm | 82% | 0.7 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2019 | 18.9°C | 13.6°C | 8.2°C | 29.1°C | 4.3°C | 56 mm | 82% | 0.6 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2018 | 19.7°C | 14.1°C | 8.6°C | 30.3°C | 4.6°C | 15 mm | 81% | 0.6 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2017 | 18.6°C | 13.1°C | 7.6°C | 30.1°C | 2.6°C | 81 mm | 82% | 0.7 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2016 | 19.0°C | 13.6°C | 8.2°C | 28.6°C | 5.7°C | 49 mm | 80% | 0.7 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2015 | 18.7°C | 13.6°C | 8.4°C | 25.8°C | 5.3°C | 41 mm | 83% | 0.6 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2014 | 18.4°C | 13.2°C | 8.0°C | 27.3°C | 4.1°C | 92 mm | 82% | 0.7 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2013 | 17.7°C | 12.5°C | 7.4°C | 26.0°C | 1.0°C | 129 mm | 84% | 0.8 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2012 | 16.7°C | 11.2°C | 5.7°C | 27.5°C | 0.5°C | 93 mm | 81% | 0.7 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2011 ❄️ | 14.2°C | 9.5°C | 4.8°C | 19.6°C | 1.7°C | 100 mm | 84% | 0.7 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2010 | 14.7°C | 10.1°C | 5.5°C | 21.1°C | 1.6°C | 118 mm | 84% | 0.8 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2009 | 18.2°C | 12.4°C | 6.6°C | 26.4°C | 2.5°C | 114 mm | 81% | 0.8 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2008 | 16.6°C | 11.8°C | 7.0°C | 31.1°C | 1.8°C | 48 mm | 83% | 0.6 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2007 | 17.8°C | 12.0°C | 6.2°C | 28.4°C | 1.2°C | 38 mm | 81% | 0.7 m/s | 6 |
| 2006 | 18.3°C | 12.6°C | 6.9°C | 27.5°C | 1.1°C | 82 mm | 80% | 0.7 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2005 | 17.9°C | 13.2°C | 8.6°C | 33.9°C | 5.3°C | 146 mm | 84% | 0.7 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2004 | 16.9°C | 12.5°C | 8.1°C | 21.6°C | 5.6°C | 93 mm | 84% | 0.7 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2003 | 16.4°C | 11.6°C | 6.7°C | 27.1°C | 1.7°C | 53 mm | 83% | 0.7 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2002 | 16.0°C | 10.9°C | 5.9°C | 26.0°C | 0.6°C | 53 mm | 82% | 0.7 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2001 | 18.7°C | 12.6°C | 6.6°C | 31.0°C | 2.2°C | 61 mm | 79% | 0.7 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2000 | 15.8°C | 11.2°C | 6.7°C | 22.9°C | 2.3°C | 102 mm | 84% | 0.8 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1999 | 14.6°C | 9.7°C | 4.8°C | 25.9°C | -0.1°C | 105 mm | 83% | 0.8 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1998 | 14.5°C | 10.6°C | 6.8°C | 24.5°C | 3.2°C | 151 mm | 88% | 0.7 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1997 | 19.5°C | 14.0°C | 8.6°C | 27.6°C | 2.5°C | 84 mm | 81% | 0.7 m/s | 6 |
| 1996 | 14.8°C | 10.3°C | 5.8°C | 22.5°C | 1.7°C | 139 mm | 84% | 0.7 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1995 | 18.1°C | 12.8°C | 7.6°C | 25.3°C | 3.1°C | 55 mm | 82% | 0.6 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1994 | 17.8°C | 12.5°C | 7.2°C | 25.1°C | 3.7°C | 55 mm | 82% | 0.7 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1993 | 19.2°C | 13.8°C | 8.4°C | 29.7°C | 3.4°C | 144 mm | 83% | 0.7 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1992 | 21.1°C | 14.4°C | 7.8°C | 32.3°C | 1.9°C | 12 mm | 76% | 0.6 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1991 | 14.4°C | 10.0°C | 5.6°C | 19.8°C | 1.8°C | 115 mm | 86% | 0.7 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1990 | 16.1°C | 11.0°C | 6.0°C | 25.6°C | 2.2°C | 93 mm | 84% | 0.7 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1989 | 16.9°C | 11.7°C | 6.6°C | 25.2°C | 4.1°C | 77 mm | 82% | 0.7 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1988 | 16.0°C | 11.0°C | 5.9°C | 29.6°C | 1.8°C | 123 mm | 84% | 0.8 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1987 | 18.5°C | 13.0°C | 7.5°C | 33.8°C | 4.1°C | 79 mm | 81% | 0.8 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1986 | 16.7°C | 11.7°C | 6.6°C | 30.8°C | 1.8°C | 80 mm | 83% | 0.7 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1985 | 16.7°C | 11.4°C | 6.0°C | 24.4°C | -0.6°C | 49 mm | 81% | 0.7 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1984 | 14.9°C | 10.0°C | 5.2°C | 25.1°C | 2.6°C | 140 mm | 84% | 0.8 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1983 | 18.3°C | 12.8°C | 7.3°C | 31.8°C | 2.8°C | 83 mm | 82% | 0.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 16.5°C | 10.9°C | 5.4°C | 26.3°C | 0.8°C | 28 mm | 80% | 0.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 15.8°C | 10.9°C | 5.9°C | 25.0°C | 2.8°C | 90 mm | 84% | 0.7 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 17.2°C with lows near 6.9°C (mean 12.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 85 mm of rainfall in Vancouver, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 184 mm in 2022.
The hottest May reached 33.9°C in 2005. The coldest dipped to -0.6°C in 1985.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 0.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 16.4°C to 17.4°C and overnight lows from 6°C to 6.8°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Vancouver and one of the drier months, so plan for around 17.2°C daytime highs and 6.9°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in Vancouver, averaging 12.1°C.
For May in Vancouver, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 17.2°C and lows of 6.9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in May averages 82% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 0.7 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 0.8 m/s (1984).
The wettest May on record was 2022 with 184 mm. On average, May sees 85 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 Vancouver 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.
