Oceanside weather in May

In May, Oceanside sees average daytime highs of 66°F and overnight lows near 58°F, with 0.3 in of rain across 1.8 wet days and about 13.7 hours of daylight. It is the 7th-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 66°F through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time in May, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 18 min at the start of May to 14 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Oceanside's 9th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Oceanside's year-round climate.

Daytime high
66°
7th warmest
Overnight low
58°
7th coldest
Rainfall
0.3 in
1.8 wet days
Daylight
13 h 42 min
4:55 AM – 6:37 PM
Cloud cover
43%
9th clearest
Wind
6 mph
2nd windiest
Solar energy
7.19 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.6
out of 10

Oceanside is city in San Diego County, California, United States.

Density
1,608/km²
people per km²
Founded
1888

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

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 66°F through the month.

A typical May day in Oceanside reaches about 66°F in the afternoon and slips back to 58°F overnight — a 8°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 61°F and 72°F. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 2°F warmer than April and about 3°F cooler than June.

50°60°70°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
16658
26658
36658
46658
56658
66658
76658
86658
96658
106658
116658
126658
136658
146658
156658
166658
176659
186659
196659
206659
216659
226659
236659
246659
256659
266659
276659
286759
296759
306760
316760

Oceanside weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 7th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan62° / 52°2.55.310.16.2
Feb62° / 53°2.96.110.85.9
Mar63° / 54°1.65.311.76.3
Apr64° / 56°0.7312.87.2
May66° / 58°0.31.813.77.6
Jun69° / 62°0.10.414.28.4
Jul74° / 65°0.00.3149.2
Aug76° / 67°0.00.213.29.5
Sep75° / 66°0.10.612.29.3
Oct72° / 63°0.5211.28.5
Nov67° / 58°0.82.710.37.7
Dec63° / 53°1.84.79.86.5

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 32%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16733
26733
36733
46733
56733
66733
76733
86634
96634
106733
116733
126733
136733
146733
156733
166733
176733
186733
196832
206832
216832
226832
236832
246832
256832
266931
276931
286931
296931
306931
316931

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Oceanside gets around 0.3 in of rain over 1.8 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 6% and peaks near 8% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
18
28
38
48
57
67
77
87
97
107
117
127
136
146
156
166
176
186
195
205
215
225
235
244
254
264
274
284
294
303
313

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 44% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
1553690
2543790
3533890
45139100
55040100
65040100
74941100
84942100
94842100
104743100
114743100
124643100
134643110
144643110
154643110
164643110
174643110
184543110
194544110
204544110
214444110
224345120
234245121
244046131
253947131
263847141
273648151
283449161
293350161
303151171
312953171

Wind in May

Winds average 6 mph in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 6 mph on the calmest days to 6 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
16calm
26calm
36calm
46calm
56calm
66calm
76calm
86calm
96calm
106calm
116calm
126calm
136calm
146calm
156calm
166calm
176calm
186calm
196calm
206calm
216calm
226calm
236calm
246calm
256calm
266calm
276calm
286calm
296calm
306calm
316calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 18 min at the start of May to 14 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 42 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:08 AM to 4:47 AM, and sunset from 6:26 PM to 6:47 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.35:086:26
213.35:076:26
313.45:066:27
413.45:056:28
513.45:046:29
613.45:036:29
713.55:026:30
813.55:016:31
913.55:006:32
1013.64:596:33
1113.64:586:33
1213.64:586:34
1313.64:576:35
1413.74:566:36
1513.74:556:36
1613.74:556:37
1713.74:546:38
1813.84:536:38
1913.84:526:39
2013.84:526:40
2113.84:516:41
2213.84:516:41
2313.94:506:42
2413.94:506:43
2513.94:496:43
2613.94:496:44
2713.94:486:45
2814.04:486:45
2914.04:476:46
3014.04:476:47
3114.04:476:47

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 7.19 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.05 kWh/m² to a high of 7.71 kWh/m² in June across the year — May's 7.19 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

02468151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
17.0Intense
27.0Intense
37.1Intense
47.1Intense
57.1Intense
67.1Intense
77.1Intense
87.1Intense
97.1Intense
107.1Intense
117.1Intense
127.1Intense
137.1Intense
147.2Intense
157.2Intense
167.2Intense
177.2Intense
187.2Intense
197.2Intense
207.2Intense
217.2Intense
227.3Intense
237.3Intense
247.3Intense
257.3Intense
267.3Intense
277.3Intense
287.4Intense
297.4Intense
307.4Intense
317.4Intense
Planning a trip in May

Is May a good time to visit Oceanside?

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

7.6
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
3.3
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Oceanside in May

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

In May, Oceanside sees daytime highs around 66°F and nights near 58°F. Pack sun protection.

sun protection

Sea temperature near Oceanside in May

The nearest coast averages about 64°F in May — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea offshore is warmest in August at about 71°F and coldest in January near 59°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 5 to Oct 7 — about 3.1 months when the water holds above 68°F.

60°65°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan59Cool
Feb59Cool
Mar60Cool
Apr61Cool
May64Cool
Jun66Cool
Jul69Refreshing
Aug71Refreshing
Sep70Refreshing
Oct67Cool
Nov64Cool
Dec61Cool

UV index in Oceanside 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 Oceanside peaks around July 11 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 17 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 11 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJul 11UV 11Dec 17UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan4Moderate
Feb5Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr8Very high
May8Very high
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug10Extreme
Sep8Very high
Oct6High
Nov4Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Oceanside 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 Oceanside is worst in September — around 24 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.5× the cleanest month (May, 7 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodSep 1223 µg/m³May 207 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb11Good
Mar11Good
Apr10Good
May7Good
Jun8Good
Jul9Good
Aug20Moderate
Sep24Moderate
Oct12Moderate
Nov11Good
Dec11Good
Location & terrain

Where is Oceanside?

Oceanside sits at 33.2°N, 117.4°W, 66 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Carlsbad, 3.1 mi away.

Topography around Oceanside

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Oceanside has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 279 ft around an average of 59 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,060 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 6,772 ft.

The land around Oceanside is covered by water (42%) and artificial surfaces (39%) within 2 miles, water (47%) within 10 miles, and water (33%) and shrubs (20%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
279 ft
10 miles
1,060 ft
50 miles
6,772 ft
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
May weather nearby: Carlsbad 3.1 mi · Vista 8.1 mi · Encinitas 12 mi · San Marcos 13 mi · Fallbrook 14 mi · Escondido 18 mi · San Clemente 21 mi · Rancho Penasquitos 22 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 Oceanside (33.1959°, -117.3795°, elevation 66 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. 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).