St. Petersburg weather in May

In May, St. Petersburg sees average daytime highs of 80°F and overnight lows near 74°F, with 2.1 in of rain across 6.7 wet days and about 13.4 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 78°F in the first days to 81°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 60% of the time in May, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 13 hours at the start of May to 13 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is St. Petersburg's 1st-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see St. Petersburg's year-round climate.

Daytime high
80°
5th warmest
Overnight low
74°
8th coldest
Rainfall
2.1 in
6.7 wet days
Daylight
13 h 24 min
5:46 AM – 7:08 PM
Cloud cover
37%
1st clearest
Wind
10 mph
8th windiest
Solar energy
6.66 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.5
out of 10

St. Petersburg is city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States.

Density
721/km²
people per km²
Founded
1876

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 78°F in the first days to 81°F by the end.

A typical May day in St. Petersburg reaches about 80°F in the afternoon and slips back to 74°F overnight — a 6°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 76°F and 83°F. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 5°F warmer than April and about 3°F cooler than June.

60°70°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
17771
27771
37871
47872
57872
67872
77872
87872
97973
107973
117973
127973
137973
147973
158074
168074
178074
188074
198074
208074
218074
228075
238175
248175
258175
268175
278176
288176
298176
308276
318276

How May really feels in St. Petersburg

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.

St. Petersburg weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 5th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan65° / 58°2.56.310.46.7
Feb66° / 59°1.95.8116.9
Mar70° / 63°2.2611.87.4
Apr75° / 68°1.75.112.68.0
May80° / 74°2.16.713.47.5
Jun83° / 78°5.316.213.75.1
Jul84° / 80°5.32013.64.2
Aug85° / 80°5.721.2134.0
Sep84° / 78°5.515.912.24.9
Oct80° / 73°2.57.111.37.3
Nov73° / 66°1.64.210.68.0
Dec68° / 61°2.15.610.37.2

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 60% of the time in May, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 26%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17723
27723
37822
47822
57822
67822
77822
87822
97822
107822
117822
127723
137822
147723
157624
167624
177624
187525
197525
207426
217426
227327
237327
247228
257129
267129
276931
286832
296634
306634
316436

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

St. Petersburg gets around 2.1 in of rain over 6.7 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 22% and peaks near 37% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
117
216
315
415
515
615
715
815
915
1016
1116
1217
1318
1419
1519
1620
1721
1822
1923
2024
2125
2226
2327
2428
2529
2630
2732
2833
2934
3036
3137

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, May lands in the oppressive band about 42% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 79% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
15112236250
25112137260
35112137270
44102137270
54102038280
6492039290
7381939301
8381840301
9371841311
10271741321
11261642331
12261542341
13261542351
14251442361
15151442371
16151341391
17141340401
18141339421
19141238441
20131237461
21131235481
22131133502
23031132522
24021130552
25021028582
26021027583
2701925623
2801923634
2901822645
3000720676
3100619687

Wind in May

Winds average 10 mph in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 9 mph on the calmest days to 10 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
110light breeze
210light breeze
310light breeze
410light breeze
510light breeze
610light breeze
710light breeze
810light breeze
910light breeze
1010light breeze
1110light breeze
1210light breeze
1310light breeze
1410light breeze
1510light breeze
1610light breeze
1710light breeze
1810light breeze
1910light breeze
2010light breeze
2110light breeze
2210light breeze
2310light breeze
2410light breeze
2510light breeze
2610light breeze
279light breeze
289light breeze
299light breeze
309light breeze
319light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 hours at the start of May to 13 h 36 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 36 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:57 AM to 5:40 AM, and sunset from 6:59 PM to 7:17 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.05:576:59
213.15:567:00
313.15:557:00
413.15:547:01
513.15:537:02
613.25:537:02
713.25:527:03
813.25:517:03
913.25:507:04
1013.25:507:05
1113.35:497:05
1213.35:487:06
1313.35:487:06
1413.35:477:07
1513.45:467:07
1613.45:467:08
1713.45:457:09
1813.45:457:09
1913.45:447:10
2013.45:447:10
2113.55:437:11
2213.55:437:12
2313.55:427:12
2413.55:427:13
2513.55:427:13
2613.55:417:14
2713.65:417:14
2813.65:417:15
2913.65:407:15
3013.65:407:16
3113.65:407:17

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 6.66 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.24 kWh/m² to a high of 6.66 kWh/m² in May across the year — May's 6.66 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.7Intense
26.7Intense
36.7Intense
46.7Intense
56.7Intense
66.7Intense
76.7Intense
86.7Intense
96.7Intense
106.7Intense
116.7Intense
126.7Intense
136.7Intense
146.7Intense
156.7Intense
166.7Intense
176.6Intense
186.6Intense
196.6Intense
206.6Intense
216.5Intense
226.5Intense
236.5Intense
246.5Intense
256.5Intense
266.4Intense
276.4Intense
286.4Intense
296.3Intense
306.3Intense
316.3Intense
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for St. Petersburg

In seasonPeak

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

St. Petersburg sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

St. Petersburg's rainy season runs June–September, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is May a good time to visit St. Petersburg?

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

7.5
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
7.3
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

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

What to pack for St. Petersburg in May

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

In May, St. Petersburg sees daytime highs around 80°F and nights near 74°F. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes. About 7 days see rain.

sun protectionlight clothes

Sea temperature near St. Petersburg in May

The nearest coast averages about 79°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 11 mi away) is warmest in August at about 86°F and coldest in January near 65°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Mar 15 to Dec 20 — about 9.2 months when the water holds above 68°F.

60°70°80°90°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan65Cool
Feb65Cool
Mar68Refreshing
Apr73Refreshing
May79Warm
Jun83Tropical
Jul86Tropical
Aug86Tropical
Sep85Tropical
Oct80Warm
Nov73Refreshing
Dec69Refreshing

UV index in St. Petersburg in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in St. Petersburg peaks around July 13 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 4 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecHighVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJul 13UV 11Dec 19UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan5Moderate
Feb7High
Mar9Very high
Apr9Very high
May10Very high
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug10Very high
Sep9Very high
Oct7Very high
Nov6High
Dec4Moderate

Air quality in St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg is worst in July — around 19 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.0× the cleanest month (November, 10 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 2019 µg/m³Nov 2310 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb11Good
Mar11Good
Apr11Good
May12Good
Jun16Moderate
Jul19Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct10Good
Nov10Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is St. Petersburg?

St. Petersburg sits at 27.8°N, 82.7°W, 43 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is West and East Lealman, 3.7 mi away.

Topography around St. Petersburg

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around St. Petersburg has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 85 ft around an average of 49 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 102 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 377 ft.

The land around St. Petersburg is covered by artificial surfaces (61%) and trees (32%) within 2 miles, water (60%) and artificial surfaces (22%) within 10 miles, and water (42%) and trees (31%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
85 ft
10 miles
102 ft
50 miles
377 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswatermangroves
May weather nearby: West and East Lealman 3.7 mi · Lealman 3.7 mi · Pinellas Park 5.0 mi · Seminole 8.1 mi · Largo 12 mi · Safety Harbor 15 mi · Clearwater 16 mi · Ruskin 16 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 St. Petersburg (27.7709°, -82.6793°, elevation 43 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).