Catania weather in May

In May, Catania sees average daytime highs of 24°C and overnight lows near 15°C, with 29 mm of rain across 4.5 wet days and about 14 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 22°C in the first days to 26°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 55% of the time in May, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 30 min at the start of May to 14 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Catania's 5th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Catania's year-round climate.

Daytime high
24°
5th warmest
Overnight low
15°
7th coldest
Rainfall
29 mm
4.5 wet days
Daylight
14 hours
4:56 AM – 6:56 PM
Cloud cover
40%
5th clearest
Wind
7 km/h
7th windiest
Solar energy
6.6 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.0
out of 10
Air quality
Good
PM10 24.5 µg/m³ · 2018

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 22°C in the first days to 26°C by the end.

A typical May day in Catania reaches about 24°C in the afternoon and slips back to 15°C overnight — a 9°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 20°C and 28°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 4°C warmer than April and about 5°C cooler than June.

10°15°20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12113
22213
32213
42213
52213
62213
72214
82314
92314
102314
112314
122314
132314
142414
152415
162415
172415
182415
192415
202415
212515
222516
232516
242516
252516
262516
272516
282516
292616
302617
312617

How May really feels in Catania

Once humidity and wind are folded in, May averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

May sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Catania weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 5th-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan14° / 767.89.74.4
Feb14° / 597.210.64.6
Mar16° / 577.711.75.7
Apr19° / 11°477.612.96.7
May24° / 15°294.5148.0
Jun28° / 19°20314.57.3
Jul31° / 22°101.914.35.7
Aug32° / 22°152.913.45.4
Sep28° / 19°546.912.36.9
Oct23° / 16°648.4117.3
Nov19° / 11°667.9106.4
Dec15° / 647.69.55.1

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 55% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 21% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 25%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17030
27129
37228
47327
57426
67525
77525
87525
97525
107525
117525
127525
137624
147624
157525
167525
177525
187624
197525
207525
217525
227525
237624
247723
257723
267723
277822
287723
297822
307822
317822

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Catania gets around 29 mm of rain over 4.5 wet days in May. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 15% and peaks near 21% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
121
220
319
418
517
617
716
815
915
1015
1114
1214
1314
1413
1513
1613
1713
1813
1914
2014
2114
2214
2314
2414
2514
2614
2714
2814
2914
3014
3114

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of May feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, May lands in the dry band about 62% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
1821800
2811900
3802000
4792010
5782110
6772210
7762310
8742420
9742420
10732520
11712630
12702730
13692830
14672940
15663040
16643150
17623350
18603460
19593560
20563770
21543880
22533980
23514090
244941100
254742110
264543120
274344120
284145130
293946150
303747161
313548171

Wind in May

Winds average 7 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 7 km/h on the calmest days to 8 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
18calm
28calm
38calm
48calm
58calm
68calm
78calm
88calm
98calm
108calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 30 min at the start of May to 14 h 24 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 54 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:11 AM to 4:46 AM, and sunset from 6:43 PM to 7:08 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.55:116:43
213.65:106:44
313.65:096:45
413.65:086:45
513.75:076:46
613.75:056:47
713.75:046:48
813.85:036:49
913.85:026:50
1013.85:016:51
1113.95:006:52
1213.94:596:53
1313.94:586:54
1414.04:576:54
1514.04:576:55
1614.04:566:56
1714.04:556:57
1814.14:546:58
1914.14:536:59
2014.14:527:00
2114.14:527:00
2214.24:517:01
2314.24:507:02
2414.24:507:03
2514.24:497:04
2614.34:497:05
2714.34:487:05
2814.34:477:06
2914.34:477:07
3014.44:467:08
3114.44:467:08

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 6.6 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.09 kWh/m² to a high of 7.28 kWh/m² in July across the year — May's 6.6 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.2Intense
26.3Intense
36.3Intense
46.3Intense
56.4Intense
66.4Intense
76.4Intense
86.5Intense
96.5Intense
106.5Intense
116.5Intense
126.5Intense
136.6Intense
146.6Intense
156.6Intense
166.6Intense
176.6Intense
186.6Intense
196.6Intense
206.7Intense
216.7Intense
226.7Intense
236.7Intense
246.7Intense
256.7Intense
266.7Intense
276.8Intense
286.8Intense
296.8Intense
306.8Intense
316.8Intense
Planning a trip in May

Is May a good time to visit Catania?

Our two travel scores rate May for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

8.0
Sightseeing
1st-best month of the year
6.5
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

May is one of the better times to visit Catania for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Catania in May

From May's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In May, Catania sees daytime highs around 24°C and nights near 15°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes. About 5 days see rain.

sun protectionlight clothes

Sea temperature near Catania in May

The nearest coast averages about 18°C in May — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 14 km away) is warmest in August at about 26°C and coldest in February near 15°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 2 to Nov 11 — about 5.4 months when the water holds above 20°C.

15°20°25°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan15Cool
Feb15Bracing
Mar15Bracing
Apr16Cool
May18Cool
Jun22Refreshing
Jul25Warm
Aug26Warm
Sep25Warm
Oct23Refreshing
Nov20Cool
Dec17Cool

UV index in Catania in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Catania peaks around July 15 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighHighVery highVery highHighModerateJul 15UV 10Dec 22UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb4Moderate
Mar6High
Apr5Moderate
May6High
Jun9Very high
Jul10Extreme
Aug9Very high
Sep7High
Oct5Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Catania in May

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where May falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Catania is worst in April — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), and holds fairly steady the rest of the year.

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodApr 2217 µg/m³Dec 1511 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Good
Feb15Moderate
Mar16Moderate
Apr17Moderate
May17Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul14Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep14Moderate
Oct13Moderate
Nov12Good
Dec11Good
Location & terrain

Where is Catania?

Catania sits at 37.5°N, 15.1°E, 7 m above sea level, in Italy. The nearest listed city is Misterbianco, 6.0 km away.

Topography around Catania

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Catania.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Catania has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 180 m around an average of 42 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 939 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,307 m.

The land around Catania is covered by artificial surfaces (54%) within 3 km, water (34%) and trees (27%) within 16 km, and water (32%), trees (26%) and grassland (24%) within 80 km.

3 km
180 m
16 km
939 m
80 km
3,307 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
May weather nearby: Misterbianco 6.0 km · Gravina di Catania 8.0 km · Mascalucia 9.0 km · San Giovanni la Punta 10 km · Aci Castello 10 km · Belpasso 14 km · Aci Catena 14 km · Acireale 15 km

Italy travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type C / F / L
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 69% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$43,309
2025
Happiness
6.6 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
97%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
0.6
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
5.3
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 513
Religion
Christian 81%unaffiliated 13%Muslim 5%other 1%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Catania (37.4922°, 15.0704°, elevation 7 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).