Monthly climate guide
Edinburgh weather in May
Expect cool weather in Edinburgh in May: afternoons reach about 13°C (56°F), while nights drop to around 6°C (43°F). Around 61 mm of rain falls over the month (some rain), and skies are often cloudy. Daytime highs are 3°C warmer than April and 3°C cooler than June.
What stands out in May
- Just 140 km apart, but Edinburgh runs about 3°C warmer than Aviemore this month.
- Skies are at their clearest this time of year.
- Seasonally, May counts as late spring in Edinburgh.
- Comfortable temperatures make it easy to walk between Arthur's Seat and Edinburgh Castle.
Avg high
13°C
56°F
Avg low
6°C
43°F
Rainfall
61 mm
some rain
Humidity
83%
relative
Sky
73%
cloud · often cloudy
Edinburgh weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5°C / 41°F | 2°C / 35°F | 73 mm | 94% | 77% |
| February | 6°C / 42°F | 2°C / 35°F | 62 mm | 92% | 76% |
| March | 7°C / 45°F | 2°C / 36°F | 58 mm | 89% | 76% |
| April | 10°C / 50°F | 4°C / 38°F | 53 mm | 86% | 73% |
| May | 13°C / 56°F | 6°C / 43°F | 61 mm | 83% | 73% |
| June | 16°C / 60°F | 9°C / 48°F | 85 mm | 83% | 80% |
| July | 18°C / 64°F | 11°C / 51°F | 95 mm | 84% | 76% |
| August | 17°C / 63°F | 11°C / 51°F | 100 mm | 85% | 77% |
| September | 15°C / 59°F | 9°C / 48°F | 63 mm | 87% | 74% |
| October | 12°C / 53°F | 7°C / 44°F | 88 mm | 90% | 75% |
| November | 8°C / 47°F | 4°C / 39°F | 78 mm | 94% | 74% |
| December | 6°C / 43°F | 3°C / 37°F | 84 mm | 94% | 78% |
What to pack for May
- A warm sweater or fleece for layering
- A mid-weight jacket
- A small travel umbrella, just in case
Is May a good time to visit Edinburgh?
Our Edinburgh guide recommends: May to September, or August specifically for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
If visiting in August, book accommodation and Fringe Festival show tickets well ahead — the city's population roughly doubles.
Best time to visit Edinburgh →Other United Kingdom cities in May
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Edinburgh weather in May. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/uk/edinburgh/may
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/uk/edinburgh/may">Edinburgh weather in May</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/uk/edinburgh" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Edinburgh weather in May"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/uk/edinburgh/may">Edinburgh weather in May</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
Edinburgh in May: quick answers
Is May a good time to visit Edinburgh?
May is a reasonable time for Edinburgh: highs around 13°C and about 61 mm of rain, though not one of the three best months.
How warm is Edinburgh in May?
Average highs are about 13°C (56°F) and average lows about 6°C (43°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in Edinburgh in May?
Edinburgh typically gets around 61 mm of rain in May — some rain.
When is the best time to visit Edinburgh?
May to September, or August specifically for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around Edinburgh (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.