Sendai weather in May

In May, Sendai sees average daytime highs of 22°C and overnight lows near 18°C, with 205 mm of rain across 11.3 wet days and about 13.6 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 21°C in the first days to 23°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 26% of the time in May, and the air most often feels humid.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 12 min at the start of May to 13 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Sendai's 10th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Sendai's year-round climate.

Daytime high
22°
6th warmest
Overnight low
18°
7th coldest
Rainfall
205 mm
11.3 wet days
Daylight
13 h 36 min
5:26 AM – 7:04 PM
Cloud cover
67%
10th clearest
Wind
12 km/h
8th windiest
Solar energy
5.13 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.3
out of 10

Sendai is city in Kagoshima prefecture, Japan.

Density
135/km²
people per km²
Founded
2004

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 21°C in the first days to 23°C by the end.

A typical May day in Sendai reaches about 22°C in the afternoon and slips back to 18°C overnight — a 4°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 20°C and 24°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 4°C warmer than April and about 3°C cooler than June.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12016
22116
32117
42117
52117
62117
72117
82117
92217
102217
112218
122218
132218
142218
152218
162218
172218
182218
192218
202319
212319
222319
232319
242319
252319
262319
272319
282319
292320
302420
312420

How May really feels in Sendai

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.

Sendai weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 6th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan12° / 9812.310.22.8
Feb12° / 11311.210.83.1
Mar15° / 11°16113.411.84.2
Apr18° / 14°18611.712.85.6
May22° / 18°20511.313.66.3
Jun25° / 22°50018.5145.2
Jul29° / 25°32417.613.94.7
Aug30° / 26°16615.713.24.5
Sep28° / 24°19813.112.25.7
Oct24° / 20°1098.711.27.2
Nov19° / 15°1229.310.46.1
Dec14° / 10°10310.6104.0

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 26% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 64%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14159
24159
34060
43961
53961
64060
73862
83862
93862
103862
113862
123862
133763
143664
153763
163763
173763
183763
193664
203664
213565
223565
233565
243565
253466
263466
273367
283268
293268
303070
313070

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Sendai gets around 205 mm of rain over 11.3 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 37% and peaks near 40% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
136
236
336
436
536
636
737
837
937
1037
1137
1237
1337
1437
1537
1636
1736
1836
1936
2036
2136
2236
2336
2436
2536
2636
2737
2837
2938
3039
3140

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, May lands in the humid band about 37% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 19% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
136342280
234342390
332342490
4293426101
5273427101
6263428111
7243430111
8223431121
9213432121
10203433131
11183434131
12173434131
13163435141
14153436141
15143337151
16133338151
17123239161
18113140161
19103041172
2092942182
2182843192
2282744202
2372644212
2462445222
2562345242
2652146253
2742046273
2841847293
2931646304
3031446324
3121345345

Wind in May

Winds average 12 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 11 km/h on the calmest days to 13 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
113light breeze
213light breeze
312light breeze
412light breeze
512light breeze
612light breeze
712light breeze
812light breeze
912calm
1012calm
1112calm
1212calm
1312calm
1412calm
1512calm
1612calm
1712calm
1812calm
1912calm
2012calm
2111calm
2211calm
2311calm
2411calm
2511calm
2611calm
2711calm
2811calm
2911calm
3011calm
3111calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 12 min at the start of May to 13 h 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 42 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:39 AM to 5:19 AM, and sunset from 6:53 PM to 7:13 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.25:396:53
213.35:386:54
313.35:376:54
413.35:366:55
513.35:356:56
613.45:346:57
713.45:336:57
813.45:336:58
913.45:326:59
1013.55:316:59
1113.55:307:00
1213.55:297:01
1313.55:297:01
1413.65:287:02
1513.65:277:03
1613.65:267:04
1713.65:267:04
1813.75:257:05
1913.75:257:06
2013.75:247:06
2113.75:237:07
2213.75:237:08
2313.85:227:08
2413.85:227:09
2513.85:217:10
2613.85:217:10
2713.85:207:11
2813.95:207:12
2913.95:207:12
3013.95:197:13
3113.95:197:13

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.13 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.33 kWh/m² to a high of 5.13 kWh/m² in May across the year — May's 5.13 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.1Bright
25.1Bright
35.1Bright
45.1Bright
55.1Bright
65.1Bright
75.1Bright
85.1Bright
95.1Bright
105.1Bright
115.1Bright
125.1Bright
135.1Bright
145.1Bright
155.1Bright
165.1Bright
175.1Bright
185.1Bright
195.2Bright
205.2Bright
215.2Bright
225.2Bright
235.2Bright
245.1Bright
255.1Bright
265.1Bright
275.1Bright
285.1Bright
295.0Bright
305.0Bright
315.0Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Sendai

In seasonPeak

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

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

Sendai's rainy season runs June–July, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is May a good time to visit Sendai?

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

6.3
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
4.5
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

May is a reasonable time to visit Sendai for sightseeing.

What to pack for Sendai in May

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

In May, Sendai sees daytime highs around 22°C and nights near 18°C. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 11 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Sendai in May

The nearest coast averages about 21°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 18 km away) is warmest in August at about 28°C and coldest in February near 17°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from May 9 to Dec 11 — about 7.1 months when the water holds above 20°C.

15°20°25°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan18Cool
Feb17Cool
Mar17Cool
Apr18Cool
May21Refreshing
Jun23Refreshing
Jul26Warm
Aug28Tropical
Sep27Warm
Oct25Warm
Nov22Refreshing
Dec20Cool

UV index in Sendai in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 8 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Sendai peaks around July 10 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJul 10UV 10Dec 22UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb5Moderate
Mar7High
Apr8Very high
May8Very high
Jun10Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug9Very high
Sep10Very high
Oct6High
Nov5Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Sendai 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 Sendai is worst in April — around 23 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.9× the cleanest month (October, 12 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateApr 1423 µg/m³Oct 1012 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan15Moderate
Feb19Moderate
Mar22Moderate
Apr23Moderate
May21Moderate
Jun17Moderate
Jul12Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep12Moderate
Oct12Moderate
Nov14Moderate
Dec13Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Sendai?

Sendai sits at 31.8°N, 130.3°E, 5 m above sea level, in Japan. The nearest listed city is Ichikikushikino, 10 km away.

Topography around Sendai

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Sendai has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 179 m around an average of 32 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 686 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,644 m.

The land around Sendai is covered by trees (41%) and artificial surfaces (41%) within 3 km, trees (69%) and water (21%) within 16 km, and water (52%) and trees (41%) within 80 km.

3 km
179 m
16 km
686 m
80 km
1,644 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
May weather nearby: Ichikikushikino 10 km · Kushikino 12 km · Umeki 18 km · Tsuruda 23 km · Akune 24 km · Ijūin 24 km · Aira 28 km · Izumi 30 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 Sendai (31.8167°, 130.3°, elevation 5 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).