Hilton Head Island weather in May

In May, Hilton Head Island sees average daytime highs of 79°F and overnight lows near 68°F, with 2.4 in of rain across 8.5 wet days and about 13.6 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 12th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 76°F in the first days to 82°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 44% of the time in May, and the air most often feels muggy.

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 Hilton Head Island's 4th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Hilton Head Island's year-round climate.

Daytime high
79°
5th warmest
Overnight low
68°
8th coldest
Rainfall
2.4 in
8.5 wet days
Daylight
13 h 36 min
5:30 AM – 7:08 PM
Cloud cover
48%
4th clearest
Wind
9 mph
7th windiest
Solar energy
6.48 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.1
out of 10

Hilton Head Island is resort town in South Carolina, USA.

Density
378/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 76°F in the first days to 82°F by the end.

A typical May day in Hilton Head Island reaches about 79°F in the afternoon and slips back to 68°F overnight — a 11°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 73°F and 85°F. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 7°F warmer than April and about 5°F cooler than June.

50°60°70°80°90°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
17564
27664
37665
47665
57665
67765
77766
87766
97766
107867
117867
127867
137867
147868
157968
167968
177968
187969
197969
208069
218069
228070
238070
248070
258171
268171
278171
288171
298272
308272
318272

How May really feels in Hilton Head Island

Once humidity and wind are folded in, May averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
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.

Hilton Head Island weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 5th-warmest and 12th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan58° / 46°3.38.510.14.7
Feb61° / 48°3.28.410.85.1
Mar66° / 53°3.17.911.86.5
Apr72° / 60°2.76.812.87.3
May79° / 68°2.48.513.67.1
Jun84° / 74°4.615.314.15.0
Jul87° / 77°4.816.613.94.1
Aug85° / 77°6.118.913.24.1
Sep82° / 73°4.613.212.25.7
Oct75° / 64°3.87.611.27.4
Nov67° / 54°2.46.310.46.9
Dec61° / 48°3.38.69.95.3

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 44% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 20% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 37%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16535
26535
36535
46535
56634
66535
76634
86535
96535
106535
116535
126535
136535
146535
156535
166436
176535
186436
196436
206436
216337
226337
236238
246238
256139
266040
276040
285941
295743
305743
315644

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Hilton Head Island gets around 2.4 in of rain over 8.5 wet days in May, the driest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 28% and peaks near 41% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
120
220
320
420
520
620
721
821
922
1023
1123
1224
1325
1426
1526
1627
1728
1829
1929
2030
2131
2232
2332
2433
2534
2635
2736
2838
2939
3040
3141

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, May lands in the muggy band about 35% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 55% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
12220292450
22120292650
32019282750
41918282960
51818283160
61717273260
71616273470
81616263570
91515263680
101515253780
111414253890
1214132439100
1313132340110
1413122340120
1512122240130
1612112240150
1711112140160
1811102140180
1910102140200
20992040210
21992039230
22891938250
23781938280
24681837300
25571836321
26571835351
27471734371
28361633401
29261632431
30261531451
31151430472

Wind in May

Winds average 9 mph in May.

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

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
19light breeze
29light breeze
39light breeze
49light breeze
59light breeze
69light breeze
79light breeze
89light breeze
99light breeze
109light breeze
119light breeze
129light breeze
139light breeze
149light breeze
159light breeze
169light breeze
179light breeze
189light breeze
199light breeze
209light breeze
219light breeze
229light breeze
239light breeze
249light breeze
259light breeze
269light breeze
279light breeze
289light breeze
299light breeze
309light breeze
319light breeze

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 5:43 AM to 5:22 AM, and sunset from 6:58 PM to 7:18 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.25:436:58
213.35:426:58
313.35:416:59
413.35:407:00
513.45:397:01
613.45:387:01
713.45:377:02
813.45:367:03
913.55:357:03
1013.55:347:04
1113.55:347:05
1213.55:337:06
1313.65:327:06
1413.65:317:07
1513.65:317:08
1613.65:307:08
1713.75:297:09
1813.75:297:10
1913.75:287:11
2013.75:277:11
2113.85:277:12
2213.85:267:13
2313.85:267:13
2413.85:257:14
2513.85:257:15
2613.95:247:15
2713.95:247:16
2813.95:237:17
2913.95:237:17
3013.95:237:18
3113.95:227:18

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 6.48 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.64 kWh/m² to a high of 6.48 kWh/m² in May across the year — May's 6.48 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.4Intense
26.4Intense
36.4Intense
46.4Intense
56.5Intense
66.5Intense
76.5Intense
86.5Intense
96.5Intense
106.5Intense
116.5Intense
126.5Intense
136.5Intense
146.5Intense
156.5Intense
166.5Intense
176.5Intense
186.5Intense
196.5Intense
206.5Intense
216.5Intense
226.4Intense
236.4Intense
246.4Intense
256.4Intense
266.4Intense
276.4Intense
286.3Intense
296.3Intense
306.3Intense
316.3Intense
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Hilton Head Island

In seasonPeak

None of Hilton Head Island's seasonal hazards are active in May. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Hilton Head Island sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Atlantic hurricane
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is May a good time to visit Hilton Head Island?

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

7.1
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
6.7
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Hilton Head Island in May

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

In May, Hilton Head Island sees daytime highs around 79°F and nights near 68°F. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes and rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

sun protectionlight clothesrain gear

Sea temperature near Hilton Head Island in May

The nearest coast averages about 74°F 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 8 mi away) is warmest in August at about 84°F and coldest in February near 59°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Apr 23 to Nov 17 — about 6.9 months when the water holds above 68°F.

60°70°80°90°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan60Cool
Feb59Cool
Mar61Cool
Apr66Cool
May74Refreshing
Jun80Warm
Jul83Tropical
Aug84Tropical
Sep82Warm
Oct76Warm
Nov68Refreshing
Dec63Cool

UV index in Hilton Head Island in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 9 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Hilton Head Island peaks around July 13 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 3 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJul 13UV 10Dec 19UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan4Moderate
Feb5High
Mar7High
Apr7High
May9Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep8Very high
Oct6High
Nov5Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island is worst in March — around 25 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.4× the cleanest month (December, 7 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodMar 1723 µg/m³Dec 158 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb12Moderate
Mar25Moderate
Apr14Moderate
May14Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct8Good
Nov8Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Hilton Head Island?

Hilton Head Island sits at 32.2°N, 80.7°W, 10 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Hilton Head, 1.9 mi away.

Topography around Hilton Head Island

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Hilton Head Island.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Hilton Head Island has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 112 ft around an average of 30 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 125 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 233 ft.

The land around Hilton Head Island is covered by trees (57%) within 2 miles, water (61%) and trees (21%) within 10 miles, and trees (48%) and water (36%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
112 ft
10 miles
125 ft
50 miles
233 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
May weather nearby: Hilton Head 1.9 mi · Bluffton 7.5 mi · Wilmington Island 19 mi · Savannah 22 mi · Pooler 30 mi · Hinesville 56 mi · Charleston 62 mi · Statesboro 63 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

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 Hilton Head Island (32.1938°, -80.7382°, elevation 10 ft), 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).