Sun, sea & sand

Portland, Maine weather in May

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

25

Holiday weather in May

Poor

Best time to visit: July – August

What is the weather like in Portland, Maine in May?

In May, Portland, Maine is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 9.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 77 mm in total. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Portland, Maine.

May compared

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

AprilAprMayMayJuneJun
Score232534
Day10°16°20°
Night3°9°14°
Sea6°9°13°
Sun7 h7 h7 h
Rain days111011

More details for May

Daylight
14 h 41 min05:17 – 19:58
UV index
8 · very highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
Muggy days
0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
Wind
18 km/haverage daily peakAll months
Cloud cover
63 %on averageAll months
Hot days
0 days30 °C or moreAll months
Snow days
0 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
Time zone
UTC−4America/New_York

How the score comes together

  • Temperatureweight 35 %0 %
  • Seaweight 25 %0 %
  • Sunshineweight 20 %68 %
  • Few rainy daysweight 20 %56 %

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
  • Rain jacket or umbrella

Portland, Maine in May: quick answers

Is Portland, Maine hot in May?

No. In May, Portland, Maine is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C and nights drop to about 9 °C.

Can you swim in Portland, Maine in May?

Only if you don't mind cold water: in May the sea averages just 9.1 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.

Does it rain much in Portland, Maine in May?

Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 77 mm in total.

Portland, Maine 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