Gran Canaria

What’s the weather like in Gran Canaria in May?

Gran Canaria has lovely weather all year round and it’s nearly summer in May, so things start getting quite hot. The island’s around 150km off the coast of North Africa, which means you'll get lots of sun and hardly any rain in May.

Microclimates

Gran Canaria’s high mountains mean you'll get different weather around the island; they protect the south from north easterly winds, keeping you warmer and drier than in the north. There’s less rain on the coast, while the mountains themselves are cooler. The nearby Sahara Desert can make things really hot at times, although the trade winds and cool Canary Current will usually keep you comfortable. Dust storms can also blow in, which are most likely when the seasons are changing.

Averages

The normal high temperature in Gran Canaria is 24ºC in May, which cools to a fairly pleasant 16ºC at night. The usual sea temperature’s 20ºC, while humidity’s low and average rainfall’s just 1mm. You can expect 14 hours of daylight with nine hours of sunshine each day, while UV levels will be very high so sun cream is essential. Sunset’s around 8.45pm for much of May.