Sakata weather in May

In May, Sakata sees average daytime highs of 17°C and overnight lows near 12°C, with 116 mm of rain across 12.8 wet days and about 14.1 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 15°C in the first days to 19°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 29% of the time in May, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 36 min at the start of May to 14 h 30 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Sakata's 3rd-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Sakata's year-round climate.

Daytime high
17°
6th warmest
Overnight low
12°
7th coldest
Rainfall
116 mm
12.8 wet days
Daylight
14 h 06 min
4:33 AM – 6:40 PM
Cloud cover
63%
3rd clearest
Wind
13 km/h
8th windiest
Solar energy
5.51 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.1
out of 10

Sakata is city in Yamagata prefecture, Japan.

Density
166/km²
people per km²
Founded
1933

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 15°C in the first days to 19°C by the end.

A typical May day in Sakata reaches about 17°C in the afternoon and slips back to 12°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 14°C and 21°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 5°C warmer than April and about 4°C cooler than June.

10°15°20°25°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
11510
21510
31510
41510
51610
61611
71611
81611
91611
101611
111611
121711
131712
141712
151712
161712
171712
181712
191813
201813
211813
221813
231813
241813
251914
261914
271914
281914
291914
301914
312015

How May really feels in Sakata

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.

Sakata weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 6th-warmest and 11th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan / 18826.319.99.60.0
Feb / 12921.51610.50.0
Mar / 12618.98.611.70.8
Apr12° / 11114.30.7132.9
May17° / 12°11612.8014.15.1
Jun21° / 17°12911.5014.76.1
Jul25° / 21°23316.1014.45.7
Aug27° / 23°18414.6013.55.8
Sep24° / 20°16314.4012.35.9
Oct18° / 14°16515.60115.1
Nov12° / 17819.91.19.92.6
Dec / 21625.211.19.30.5

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 29% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 57%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14555
24456
34456
44456
54357
64357
74357
84258
94258
104159
114159
124258
134159
144159
154159
164159
174258
184357
194357
204357
214456
224456
234555
244654
254555
264654
274654
284555
294555
304555
314555

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Sakata gets around 116 mm of rain over 12.8 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 41% and peaks near 45% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
145
245
344
444
544
644
744
844
944
1044
1144
1244
1343
1443
1543
1642
1742
1842
1941
2040
2140
2239
2338
2437
2536
2635
2735
2834
2933
3033
3132

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 78% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
19640
29640
39640
49550
59550
69460
79460
89370
99280
109190
1190100
1289110
1388120
1487130
1585150
1683170
1781190
1878211
1976231
2074251
2171272
2269292
2366313
2463334
2560364
2658375
2755396
2852417
2949439
30464410
31434512

Wind in May

Winds average 13 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 12 km/h on the calmest days to 15 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
115light breeze
215light breeze
315light breeze
415light breeze
514light breeze
614light breeze
714light breeze
814light breeze
914light breeze
1014light breeze
1114light breeze
1214light breeze
1314light breeze
1414light breeze
1514light breeze
1613light breeze
1713light breeze
1813light breeze
1913light breeze
2013light breeze
2113light breeze
2213light breeze
2312light breeze
2412light breeze
2512light breeze
2612light breeze
2712light breeze
2812light breeze
2912calm
3012calm
3112calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 36 min at the start of May to 14 h 30 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 4:50 AM to 4:23 AM, and sunset from 6:26 PM to 6:53 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.64:506:26
213.64:486:27
313.74:476:28
413.74:466:29
513.84:456:30
613.84:446:31
713.84:426:32
813.94:416:33
913.94:406:34
1013.94:396:35
1114.04:386:36
1214.04:376:37
1314.04:366:38
1414.14:356:39
1514.14:346:39
1614.14:336:40
1714.14:326:41
1814.24:326:42
1914.24:316:43
2014.24:306:44
2114.34:296:45
2214.34:286:46
2314.34:286:47
2414.34:276:47
2514.44:266:48
2614.44:266:49
2714.44:256:50
2814.44:256:51
2914.54:246:51
3014.54:236:52
3114.54:236:53

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.51 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.56 kWh/m² to a high of 5.51 kWh/m² in May across the year — May's 5.51 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.3Bright
25.4Bright
35.4Bright
45.4Bright
55.4Bright
65.4Bright
75.4Bright
85.4Bright
95.4Bright
105.4Bright
115.4Bright
125.4Bright
135.4Bright
145.4Bright
155.4Bright
165.5Bright
175.5Bright
185.5Bright
195.5Bright
205.6Bright
215.6Bright
225.7Bright
235.7Bright
245.7Bright
255.8Bright
265.8Bright
275.8Bright
285.8Bright
295.9Bright
305.9Bright
315.9Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Sakata

In seasonPeak

In May, Sakata sits inside its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Sakata sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.

Pacific typhoon
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is May a good time to visit Sakata?

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

5.1
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
1.4
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

May is a reasonable time to visit Sakata for sightseeing.

What to pack for Sakata in May

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

In May, Sakata sees daytime highs around 17°C and nights near 12°C. Worth packing: rain gear and sun protection. About 13 days see rain.

rain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Sakata in May

The nearest coast averages about 14°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 20 km away) is warmest in August at about 26°C and coldest in March near 9°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 25 to Oct 26 — about 4.1 months when the water holds above 20°C.

10°20°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan12Bracing
Feb10Bracing
Mar9Bracing
Apr10Bracing
May14Bracing
Jun19Cool
Jul23Refreshing
Aug26Warm
Sep25Warm
Oct21Refreshing
Nov18Cool
Dec15Bracing

UV index in Sakata in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 8 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Sakata peaks around August 17 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowAug 17UV 9Dec 19UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul7High
Aug9Very high
Sep7Very high
Oct5Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Sakata 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 Sakata is worst in April — around 20 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.3× the cleanest month (September, 9 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodApr 1420 µg/m³Sep 209 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar19Moderate
Apr20Moderate
May18Moderate
Jun13Moderate
Jul11Good
Aug10Good
Sep9Good
Oct9Good
Nov9Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Sakata?

Sakata sits at 38.9°N, 139.9°E, 0 m above sea level, in Japan. The nearest listed city is Shonai, 9.0 km away.

Topography around Sakata

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Sakata has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 43 m around an average of 5 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 395 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,205 m.

The land around Sakata is covered by artificial surfaces (44%) and cropland (38%) within 3 km, water (37%), cropland (30%) and trees (23%) within 16 km, and trees (52%) and water (37%) within 80 km.

3 km
43 m
16 km
395 m
80 km
2,205 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
May weather nearby: Shonai 9.0 km · Tsuruoka 22 km · Nikaho 40 km · Shinjō 42 km · Yurihonjō 55 km · Obanazawa 59 km · Yuzawa 62 km · Yachi 68 km

Japan travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type A / B
100 V · 50 / 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 65% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$35,951
2025
Happiness
6.1 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
99%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
0.2
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
3.6
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
Very low
EF EPI 446
Religion
Shintoism 49%Buddhism 46%other 4%Christianity 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 Sakata (38.9167°, 139.855°, elevation 0 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. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). 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).