SeasonMapSt. John's, Newfoundland (St. John's) weather in May
Canada
May in St. John's, Newfoundland: cold, a little rain, with clean air — a great time to visit.
#5 of 12 months in St. John's, Newfoundland · #1005 of 1383 destinations to visit in May · comfort 71/100 (tier B)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on St. John's, Newfoundland in May
Other months in St. John's, Newfoundland
Newfoundland's forum calls late July into August the best chance for good weather, typically around 20°C but genuinely variable — anything from a cool, wet day to full sun. Regulars are consistent that Newfoundland is rarely hot and often feels cooler than the number suggests thanks to the wind, so a rain coat and layers matter more than a summer wardrobe.
Add your own note from St. John's, Newfoundland's card on the map.
St. John's, Newfoundland climate normals — May
| Daytime high | 12°C / 53°F | 🧥 cold |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 1°C / 35°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 8°C / 46°F | |
| Sea temperature | 2°C / 35°F | 🥶 cold sea |
| Rainfall | 74 mm / 2.9 in | 🌦 some rain |
| Rainy days | 12 days | |
| Humidity | 80% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 2°C / 36°F | |
| Sunshine | 8.6 h/day | |
| Daylight | 15.1 h | |
| Wind | 25 km/h / 16 mph | |
| Snowfall | 2.1 cm / 0.8 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 35 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in St. John's, Newfoundland in May
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Shoulder seasonan ordinary month(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for St. John's, Newfoundland's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherSt. John's, Newfoundland's weather peaks June–August, best around July.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in St. John's, Newfoundland in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Nature
Iceberg season
1 May – 10 Jul · usuallyBergs calved off Greenland drift down the coast and ground in the shallows, usually most numerous from late May to mid-June. Some years bring dozens past Cape Spear and some bring almost none. Source ↗
- Nature
Puffins at Witless Bay
15 May – 15 Aug · usuallyBirdlife seasonHundreds of thousands of puffins and murres nest on the islands half an hour south of town, reachable on a two-hour boat that usually finds whales on the same trip.
- Season
Fog season
15 May – 31 Jul · usuallyRiskWarm air over the cold Labrador current makes this one of the foggiest places anywhere, worst in late spring and early summer. Signal Hill vanishes for days and the icebergs are somewhere in it.
Where is St. John's, Newfoundland?
St. John's, Newfoundland in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit St. John's, Newfoundland?
- May in St. John's, Newfoundland: cold, a little rain, with clean air — a great time to visit. It ranks #5 of 12 months for St. John's, Newfoundland on SeasonMap's comfort score (71/100).
- What is the weather like in St. John's, Newfoundland in May?
- In May, St. John's, Newfoundland averages a daily high of 11.7°C and a low of 1.4°C, with about 73.7 mm of rain over roughly 11.6 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in St. John's, Newfoundland in May?
- St. John's, Newfoundland has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 35 in May.
- Does it snow in St. John's, Newfoundland in May?
- St. John's, Newfoundland sees roughly 2.1 cm of snowfall in May.