Canada
Canada in May
Where it is warm, dry and good for swimming in Canada in May — compared across the country’s main destinations.
Quick answers
- Where is it warmest in Canada in May?
- Windsor is the warmest of the 16 destinations compared, with highs of 21°C (70°F) in May; Yellowknife is the coolest at 9°C (48°F).
- Can you swim in the sea in Canada in May?
- Hardly: even the warmest water, at Vancouver (12°C (54°F)), stays below 21 °C.
Warmest
21°
Windsor
Coolest
9°
Yellowknife
Driest
18 mm
Yellowknife
Warmest sea
12°
Vancouver
Windsor is the warm end of Canada in May (21°C (70°F)); Yellowknife the cool end (9°C (48°F)). On average it is 7 °C (13 °F) warmer than April. Some destinations see regular rain. Best bets this month: Windsor, Winnipeg, and Ottawa.
Best places in Canada in May
77 
Windsor
Ontario · Canada
21° / 9° 77 mm May
.jpg.avif)
73
Winnipeg
Manitoba · Canada
19° / 6° 63 mm May
66
Ottawa
Ontario · Canada
19° / 7° 80 mm May
80
Osoyoos
British Columbia · Canada
22° / 8° 36 mm May
75
Kelowna
British Columbia · Canada
20° / 7° 34 mm May
81
Oliver
British Columbia · Canada
22° / 8° 34 mm May
66
Toronto
Ontario · Canada
18° / 8° 76 mm May
76
Kamloops
British Columbia · Canada
22° / 7° 37 mm May
Weather in May by city
| Place | Day | Night | Rain | Sea | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windsor | 21° | 9° | 77 mm | 11° | 77 |
| Winnipeg | 19° | 6° | 63 mm | — | 73 |
| Niagara Falls | 19° | 8° | 84 mm | — | 68 |
| Ottawa | 19° | 7° | 80 mm | — | 66 |
| Toronto | 18° | 8° | 76 mm | 7° | 66 |
| Victoria | 17° | 8° | 32 mm | 10° | 64 |
| Edmonton | 17° | 5° | 48 mm | — | 64 |
| Montreal | 18° | 7° | 84 mm | — | 62 |
| Kingston | 18° | 7° | 79 mm | 7° | 61 |
| Vancouver | 17° | 9° | 84 mm | 12° | 59 |
| Calgary | 17° | 3° | 55 mm | — | 59 |
| Québec | 18° | 6° | 106 mm | — | 57 |
| Moncton | 16° | 5° | 101 mm | — | 50 |
| Banff | 13° | 1° | 62 mm | — | 41 |
| Yellowknife | 9° | -1° | 18 mm | — | 40 |
| St. John's | 12° | 3° | 102 mm | 3° | 27 |
Festivals in Canada in May
- Floralies Internationales de Montréal 1980 horticultural exposition
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Canada in May?
Average daytime highs range from 9° in Yellowknife to 21° in Windsor.
Can you swim in Canada in May?
The sea is cool: the warmest water is around Vancouver at about 12°.