Gwangyang weather in May

In May, Gwangyang sees average daytime highs of 22°C and overnight lows near 14°C, with 144 mm of rain across 8.1 wet days and about 13.8 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 21°C in the first days to 24°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 33% of the time in May, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 24 min at the start of May to 14 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Gwangyang's 8th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Gwangyang's year-round climate.

Daytime high
22°
5th warmest
Overnight low
14°
8th coldest
Rainfall
144 mm
8.1 wet days
Daylight
13 h 48 min
5:31 AM – 7:20 PM
Cloud cover
59%
8th clearest
Wind
9 km/h
7th windiest
Solar energy
5.8 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.0
out of 10

Gwangyang is city of Jeollanam-do, South Korea.

Density
336/km²
people per km²

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 24°C by the end.

A typical May day in Gwangyang reaches about 22°C in the afternoon and slips back to 14°C overnight — a 8°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 19°C and 26°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)
12012
22112
32112
42112
52112
62113
72113
82113
92113
102213
112213
122213
132214
142214
152214
162214
172214
182214
192314
202315
212315
222315
232315
242315
252315
262316
272416
282416
292416
302416
312416

How May really feels in Gwangyang

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.

Gwangyang weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan / -3°303.90.99.90.4
Feb / -1°444.70.710.71.5
Mar13° / 827.30.611.73.7
Apr18° / 1278.5012.96.0
May22° / 14°1448.1013.87.0
Jun25° / 19°19510.2014.36.5
Jul28° / 23°30917.1014.14.9
Aug29° / 23°28616.4013.34.8
Sep26° / 18°17010.1012.26.7
Oct21° / 12°704.6011.17.5
Nov14° / 475.20.110.24.9
Dec / -1°283.60.49.71.6

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 33% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 13% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 54%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15050
25050
35050
44852
54852
64852
74654
84654
94555
104555
114555
124456
134456
144555
154555
164555
174456
184555
194555
204654
214654
224654
234654
244654
254753
264753
274753
284654
294654
304654
314555

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Gwangyang gets around 144 mm of rain over 8.1 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 27% and peaks near 29% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
129
229
329
429
529
629
729
829
929
1028
1128
1228
1328
1427
1527
1627
1726
1826
1926
2025
2125
2225
2324
2424
2524
2624
2724
2824
2924
3024
3124

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 49% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
1722071
2702181
3702181
4692281
5672391
6662491
7652591
86325102
96226102
106127102
116028102
125929102
135731102
145632102
155334112
165235112
175036122
184838132
194539142
204340152
214140162
223941182
233741192
243541213
253341233
263141253
272841274
282640294
292439325
302238346
312037367

Wind in May

Winds average 9 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 8 km/h on the calmest days to 9 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
19calm
29calm
39calm
49calm
59calm
69calm
79calm
89calm
99calm
109calm
119calm
129calm
139calm
149calm
159calm
169calm
179calm
189calm
199calm
209calm
219calm
228calm
238calm
248calm
258calm
268calm
278calm
288calm
298calm
308calm
318calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 24 min at the start of May to 14 h 12 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 48 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:45 AM to 5:22 AM, and sunset from 7:08 PM to 7:31 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.45:457:08
213.45:447:09
313.55:437:10
413.55:427:11
513.55:417:11
613.55:407:12
713.65:397:13
813.65:387:14
913.65:377:15
1013.75:367:15
1113.75:357:16
1213.75:347:17
1313.75:337:18
1413.85:327:19
1513.85:317:19
1613.85:317:20
1713.95:307:21
1813.95:297:22
1913.95:287:23
2013.95:287:23
2113.95:277:24
2214.05:277:25
2314.05:267:26
2414.05:257:26
2514.05:257:27
2614.15:247:28
2714.15:247:28
2814.15:237:29
2914.15:237:30
3014.15:227:31
3114.25:227:31

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.8 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.65 kWh/m² to a high of 5.8 kWh/m² in May across the year — May's 5.8 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.6Bright
25.6Bright
35.6Bright
45.6Bright
55.6Bright
65.6Bright
75.6Bright
85.6Bright
95.7Bright
105.7Bright
115.7Bright
125.7Bright
135.7Bright
145.7Bright
155.8Bright
165.8Bright
175.8Bright
185.8Bright
195.8Bright
205.9Bright
215.9Bright
225.9Bright
235.9Bright
245.9Bright
256.0Bright
266.0Bright
276.0Bright
286.0Bright
296.0Bright
306.0Bright
316.0Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Gwangyang

In seasonPeak

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

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

Gwangyang's rainy season runs May–September, 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 Gwangyang?

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

7.0
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
4.9
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

May is one of the better times to visit Gwangyang for general sightseeing.

What to pack for Gwangyang in May

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

In May, Gwangyang sees daytime highs around 22°C and nights near 14°C. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 8 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Gwangyang in May

The nearest coast averages about 16°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 36 km away) is warmest in August at about 26°C and coldest in February near 12°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 20 to Oct 22 — about 4.1 months when the water holds above 20°C.

10°15°20°25°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan13Bracing
Feb12Bracing
Mar12Bracing
Apr13Bracing
May16Cool
Jun20Cool
Jul23Refreshing
Aug26Warm
Sep24Warm
Oct21Refreshing
Nov17Cool
Dec14Bracing

UV index in Gwangyang 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 Gwangyang peaks around August 20 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 23 at about 2 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highModerateAug 20UV 9Dec 23UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar6High
Apr7High
May8Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep9Very high
Oct5High
Nov4Moderate
Dec2Moderate

Air quality in Gwangyang 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 Gwangyang is worst in March — around 57 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 2.0× the cleanest month (July, 28 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecPoorPoorModeratePoorMar 1856 µg/m³Jul 2229 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan42Poor
Feb47Poor
Mar57Unhealthy
Apr49Poor
May42Poor
Jun38Poor
Jul28Moderate
Aug30Moderate
Sep37Poor
Oct40Poor
Nov44Poor
Dec39Poor
Location & terrain

Where is Gwangyang?

Gwangyang sits at 34.9°N, 127.7°E, 24 m above sea level, in South Korea. The nearest listed city is Kwangyang, 10 km away.

KuryeChinjuGoseong

Topography around Gwangyang

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Gwangyang has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 487 m around an average of 67 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,005 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,875 m.

The land around Gwangyang is covered by trees (43%) and artificial surfaces (32%) within 3 km, trees (48%) and water (23%) within 16 km, and trees (53%) and water (34%) within 80 km.

3 km
487 m
16 km
1,005 m
80 km
1,875 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
May weather nearby: Kwangyang 10 km · Hadong 15 km · Suncheon 19 km · Yeosu 20 km · Beolgyo 34 km · Kurye 36 km · Chinju 45 km · Goseong 57 km

South Korea travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type C / F
220 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 57% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$36,227
2025
Happiness
6.0 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
99%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
0.5
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
8.6
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 522
Religion
none 60%Protestant 17%Buddhist 16%Catholic 6%

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 Gwangyang (34.9414°, 127.6957°, elevation 24 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).