Sun, sea & sand

Carmel-by-the-Sea weather in May

Temperature, sea and sunshine in May: long-term averages from 30 years of weather data, not a forecast.

40

Holiday weather in May

Fair

Best time to visit: April – October

What is the weather like in Carmel-by-the-Sea in May?

In May, Carmel-by-the-Sea is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 12.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 14 mm in total. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

May compared

How the weather changes from April to June. Tap a month to open it.

AprilAprMayMayJuneJun
Score384040
Day14°15°16°
Night9°10°11°
Sea12°12°13°
Sun9 h10 h11 h
Rain days530

More details for May

Daylight
14 h 5 min06:01 – 20:06
UV index
10 · very highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
Muggy days
0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
Wind
16 km/haverage daily peakAll months
Cloud cover
44 %on averageAll months
Hot days
0 days30 °C or more
Time zone
UTC−7America/Los_Angeles

How the score comes together

  • Temperatureweight 35 %0 %
  • Seaweight 25 %0 %
  • Sunshineweight 20 %100 %
  • Few rainy daysweight 20 %100 %

Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.

What to pack in May

  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses & sun hat
  • A jumper for the evenings

Carmel-by-the-Sea in May: quick answers

Is Carmel-by-the-Sea hot in May?

No. In May, Carmel-by-the-Sea is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C and nights drop to about 10 °C.

Can you swim in Carmel-by-the-Sea in May?

Only if you don't mind cold water: in May the sea averages just 12.0 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.

Does it rain much in Carmel-by-the-Sea in May?

Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 14 mm in total.

Carmel-by-the-Sea month by month

Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences