Amelia Island in May
Key facts
May on Amelia Island averages 83.9°F by day and 67.7°F at night, with the ocean at 77.7°F — warm. Expect 2.68″ of rain across about 4.3 wet days: very little rain at all.
- Average daily high to low
- Ocean temperature
- Rainfall, inches
What May actually feels like
May is summer without the penalty: mid-eighties, the lowest rainfall of the year, and water finally warm enough to stay in. The humidity arrives towards the end of the month.
Sea turtle nesting season opens 1 May under FWC rules, and May is when the first crawls appear. Flat sand, filled holes and no gear left overnight are not suggestions — they are the ordinance.
The ocean in May
At 77.7°F the water is 5.1°F above the island’s annual average of 72.6°F. Warm enough to stay in as long as you like. The air reaches 83.9°F, a gap of 6.2°F over the sea — noticeable when you first get in, and gone within a minute. Ocean figures are means of hourly readings at the nearest NOAA sensor with a long record, 30 km south at Mayport — see ocean temperature by month.
Rain and storms
May averages 2.68″ across about 4.3 wet days, against 49.93″ for the year. That is very little rain at all. May sits outside the Atlantic hurricane season. Winter weather here is a passing cold front rather than a tropical system: a windy grey day, then clear.
What to pack
- long sleeves for the evening breeze off the water
- swimwear you will actually use — the ocean is warm this month
- insect repellent for dusk near the marsh
If the weather does not co-operate
Take the afternoon storms seriously from late May and shift beach time earlier. The tide matters more than the forecast for a beach day — a high tide on a narrow access leaves very little sand — so check today's tides before you commit to a stretch of beach.
Crowds and cost
High. Shrimp Festival weekend books out the whole island months ahead. We do not publish rates: they move constantly and we will not quote a figure we have not verified.
May against the months either side
| April | May | June | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average high | 77.4°F | 83.9°F | 88.3°F |
| Average low | 59.8°F | 67.7°F | 73.1°F |
| Ocean | 71.2°F | 77.7°F | 80.8°F |
| Rain | 3.03″ | 2.68″ | 6.12″ |
Usually on in May
Timing is typical, not confirmed. We publish a date only once the organiser has confirmed it for the year.
Next and previous months
Planning a May trip
Part of Amelia Island weather month by month.
Frequently asked questions
- How warm is Amelia Island in May?
- May averages a high of 83.9°F and a low of 67.7°F, for a daily mean of 75.8°F. Those are NOAA 1991–2020 normals for the station on the island itself, not the airport inland.
- Can you swim in the ocean at Amelia Island in May?
- The ocean averages 77.7°F in May — warm. Warm enough to stay in as long as you like.
- Does it rain much in May?
- May averages 2.68″ across about 4.3 days receiving 0.10″ or more, out of 49.93″ for the year. Expect very little rain at all.
- What is on in May?
- Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, Wild Amelia Nature Festival are typically held in May. We do not publish a date until the organiser has confirmed it for the year — check the event page for the current status.