Calgary in May: a seasonal travel plan
Calgary, Canada. In may, the average daytime high is 15.8 °C and the night-time low is 2.7 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Choose a month
Selected month: May
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Calgary
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 15.8 °C
- Nighttime low
- 2.7 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 78.4 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 14.5
- Daylight
- 15.5 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | 14.2 | 1.0 | 4.7 |
| Days 11–20 | 15.5 | 2.3 | 4.5 |
| From day 21 | 17.6 | 4.6 | 5.3 |
What this month is like
Calgary, Canada. In may, the average daytime high is 15.8 °C and the night-time low is 2.7 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
There are 14.5 wet days on average, with about 78.4 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
How to plan the day
Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Average daylight is 15.5 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What to pack
Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes. The day-to-night temperature difference is noticeable, so dressing in layers is practical. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 9.1 °C, May — 15.8 °C, next month — 19.8 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 9.8, 14.5 and 15.2.
Things to do
Calgary grew on the plateau above the Bow River, and its centre is easy to cross: office towers, Stephen Avenue and a riverside park on Prince's Island. The Rockies begin to the west, so the week splits between downtown days and trips to Banff or Drumheller.
Downtown and the river
Stephen Avenue cuts through the office district, and the Bow River pathway leads to Prince's Island and the park. Ride up the Calgary Tower for the view and cross the bridge to the north bank.
Kensington and Inglewood
Kensington north of the river lives on cafés and small shops, Inglewood to the east is the oldest district, with stores and music. Walk from one to the other over the bridge and eat lunch in Inglewood.
Banff for a day
Banff sits in the mountains a little over an hour away: a lake, waterfalls and trails below the peaks. Leave early enough to walk a trail and drive back before dark.
Where to stay
Downtown and Beltline
Downtown and the Beltline keep offices, restaurants and the river close, and 17 Avenue lives on bars and patios. Evenings are busy, and a car is hardly needed.
Kensington
Kensington feels like a village: low houses, cafés, bakeries and a bookshop. The centre is ten minutes by CTrain or half an hour on foot along the river.
Inglewood
Inglewood is the oldest district in the city: brick houses, independent shops and breweries. It is calm and green, with the centre reached by bus or bicycle.
Getting to and around Calgary
Calgary airport lies about seventeen kilometres north-east of downtown; bus 300 runs to the centre and a taxi suits luggage. The CTrain light rail has a free fare zone downtown, buses fill in the rest of the network, and riverside paths carry cyclists. Downtown parking is paid on weekdays, while walking between blocks takes ten or fifteen minutes.
Three days in Calgary
Downtown and the river
Start on Stephen Avenue, ride up the Calgary Tower and cross to Prince's Island. Walk the Bow pathway after lunch and take dinner on 17 Avenue.
Kensington and Inglewood
Morning among the cafés and shops of Kensington, then across the river to Inglewood. Lunch at a brewery, music in the evening and the CTrain home from Zoo station.
Banff
Drive west early, walk a trail by Lake Minnewanka, then take in Bow Falls and the town of Banff. Return to Calgary in the evening.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -2.7 | -11.3 | 15.6 | 5.2 | 8.5 |
| February | -2.5 | -12.6 | 29.0 | 7.9 | 10.0 |
| March | 3.6 | -7.6 | 28.2 | 7.8 | 11.9 |
| April | 9.1 | -3.1 | 43.2 | 9.8 | 13.8 |
| May | 15.8 | 2.7 | 78.4 | 14.5 | 15.5 |
| June | 19.8 | 7.2 | 101.7 | 15.2 | 16.5 |
| July | 23.7 | 10.3 | 62.2 | 11.0 | 16.1 |
| August | 23.2 | 9.7 | 61.6 | 10.0 | 14.6 |
| September | 17.7 | 5.1 | 43.0 | 8.5 | 12.7 |
| October | 10.4 | -1.0 | 31.2 | 6.9 | 10.7 |
| November | 2.1 | -6.4 | 29.9 | 7.8 | 9.0 |
| December | -3.4 | -11.3 | 29.1 | 7.7 | 8.0 |
Frequently asked questions
Calgary: what is the temperature in May?
The average daytime high is 15.8 °C and the night-time low is 2.7 °C. Fit the main walking route into daylight hours; bring an extra layer for the evening.
How many days with precipitation are there in May?
On average, there are 14.5 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 78.4 mm. Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What should I pack for walks in May?
Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes. The day-to-night temperature difference is noticeable, so dressing in layers is practical. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 14.2 °C; 11–20 — 15.5 °C; 21 to month-end — 17.6 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in May?
The average is 15.5 hours. Long daylight hours make it easy to split a walk between morning and evening, with a longer break in between.
Is Calgary worth visiting in May?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 15.8 °C and nights around 2.7 °C work for you. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
What can I do in Calgary on a wet day in May?
Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Calgary in May?
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Average daylight is 15.5 hours.