Month by month
| Month | Afternoon | Sea | Rain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.4 °C | 8.2 °C | 20 days | Unfavourable season |
| February | 6.4 °C | 7.5 °C | 17 days | Unfavourable season |
| March | 6.9 °C | 7.4 °C | 20 days | Unfavourable season |
| April | 8.1 °C | 7.7 °C | 13 days | Unfavourable season |
| May | 10.7 °C | 8.8 °C | 14 days | Unfavourable season |
| June | 13.1 °C | 10.5 °C | 14 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| July | 14.4 °C | 12.3 °C | 18 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| August | 14.6 °C | 13 °C | 18 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| September | 13.3 °C | 12.4 °C | 16 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| October | 10.9 °C | 11.3 °C | 18 days | Unfavourable season |
| November | 8.6 °C | 10.1 °C | 17 days | Unfavourable season |
| December | 7.3 °C | 9.2 °C | 20 days | Unfavourable season |
Nearby in May
Before you go
Three things to check once you have picked your dates.
Safety
No advisory published for this destination.
Health
CDC level 2 notice: Polio (global)
Vaccines · hepatitis B if you are not already vaccinated; hepatitis A and polio depending on activities and areas visited. Routine vaccines up to date (measles in particular).
Yellow fever · No yellow fever locally, vaccine not recommended. No entry requirement.
Malaria · None.
Per the CDC (page reviewed 25 August 2026); see a travel clinic a few weeks before departure.
Beau Fixe is not a safety or health authority. These notes summarise dated public texts and link to their source: France Diplomatie (Licence Ouverte 2.0), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gov.uk, Open Government Licence v3.0), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). Only the competent authorities are authoritative.
FAQ
Can you swim in Lerwick in May?
The sea averages 8.8°C in May — too cold for most swimmers.
How hot is Lerwick in May?
Expect 10.7°C in the afternoon and 6.9°C at night, averaged over the last 10 years.
Does it rain a lot in Lerwick in May?
Around 14 days with rain (≥ 1 mm) in the month — 45% of days.