Avg High
Athens in May
Avg Low
Rain
Daylight
14h
What to expect
May in Athens is late spring, a shoulder-season window, so you can get a bit of variety across the month. The month is warm and inviting for long walks, with a noticeable cool-down after sunset. Most days feel close to what the averages suggest, with straightforward pacing. There is plenty of daylight to stretch outdoor time.
May in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Athens.
Hottest (avg)
#5 / 12
Wettest (avg)
#8 / 12
Daylight Hours
#3 / 12
Windiest (avg)
#12 / 12
Highest UV
#3 / 12
Most Humid
#9 / 12
Monthly climate breakdown
A detailed look at the typical climate conditions for May.
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 14.2 h
- UV index (max)
- 8
- Typical sun hours
- 05:14 - 19:28
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 6 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 34%
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 58%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Explore Athens's daily climate conditions for May. Based on a 30-year historical baseline, not a forecast.
Day 15 selected for May. Typical high 24.8°C and low 15.1°C.
Typical disruptions in May
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in May.
Rain High impact
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 4% of days (1.2 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.2 days / month
~4% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.2 days / month
- Probability ~4% of days
- Intensity Up to ~18mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind High impact
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 4% of days (1.1 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.1 days / month
~4% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.1 days / month
- Probability ~4% of days
- Intensity Up to ~79km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Heat Moderate
Hot days Measures: Hot days (>=30C). Observed about 10% of days (3.1 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.1 days / month
~10% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.1 days / month
- Probability ~10% of days
- Intensity Up to ~34°C (P95)
Hot days are possible on ~3 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Heat Moderate
Hot feels-like days Measures: Hot feels-like days (>=32C). Observed about 5% of days (1.6 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.6 days / month
~5% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.6 days / month
- Probability ~5% of days
- Intensity Up to ~36°C (P95)
Feels-like heat >=32C is possible on ~2 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Rain Moderate
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 5% of days (1.5 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.5 days / month
~5% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.5 days / month
- Probability ~5% of days
- Intensity Up to ~17mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~2 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Show all disruptions (13 more)
Rain High impact
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 0.2 days/month in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~15mm (P95)
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain Moderate
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 2% of days (0.5 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~19mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind Minor
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 37% of days (11.5 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
11.5 days / month
~37% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 11.5 days / month
- Probability ~37% of days
- Intensity Up to ~63km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~12 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rain Minor
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 28% of days (8.5 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.5 days / month
~28% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.5 days / month
- Probability ~28% of days
- Intensity Up to ~11mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~9 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cloud Minor
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 20% of days (6.2 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
6.2 days / month
~20% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 6.2 days / month
- Probability ~20% of days
- Intensity Up to ~96% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~6 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain Minor
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 16% of days (4.8 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
4.8 days / month
~16% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 4.8 days / month
- Probability ~16% of days
- Intensity Up to ~16h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~5 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cloud Minor
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 8% of days (2.4 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.4 days / month
~8% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.4 days / month
- Probability ~8% of days
- Intensity Up to ~98% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain Minor
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 7% of days (2.3 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.3 days / month
~7% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.3 days / month
- Probability ~7% of days
- Intensity Up to ~17h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~2 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Humidity Minor
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 2% of days (0.6 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.6 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.6 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~85% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~1 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Cloud Minor
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 2% of days (0.5 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Overcast skies are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Heat Minor
Heatwave run Measures: Heatwave runs (>=3 hot days). Observed about 0.4 days/month in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.4 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.4 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~34°C (P95)
Heatwave runs are possible on ~0 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Heat Minor
Feels-like heatwave Measures: Feels-like heatwave runs (>=3 days). Observed about 0.3 days/month in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.3 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.3 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~36°C (P95)
Feels-like heatwave runs are possible on ~0 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Heat Minor
Very hot feels-like Measures: Very hot feels-like days (>=35C). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~37°C (P95)
Very hot feels-like conditions are possible on ~0 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Frequently asked questions
Is May a good time to visit Athens?
Typical May days in Athens reach highs of 25°C (77°F) with nights around 16°C (61°F). It usually feels warm by day and mild after dark. Overall, May sits in the middle of the Athens climate range.
What are temperatures like in May?
In May, you can usually expect highs of 25°C (77°F) and lows near 16°C (61°F). That means warm days and mild nights, so pack layers you can add or remove.
How much does it rain in May?
Rainfall in May averages 23 mm (0.91 in) across roughly 6 days. Overall it is a moderately wet time of year, so showers are usually brief rather than all-day downpours.
How many hours of daylight are there in May?
You can expect about 14 hours of daylight in May. Sunrise is typically around 05:14 and sunset near 19:28. You get long days with comfortable amounts of daylight.
How strong is the sun in May?
UV levels frequently reach very high levels (around 8), so strong sun protection is essential, especially around midday.
Is it windy in May?
In May, average wind speeds are around 9 km/h (6 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 52 km/h (32 mph). On the ground, it is it can feel quite windy at times, particularly when weather systems move through.