ERA5 almanac comparison — 8 years of real data
Gulf Shores vs Jacksonville: weather in May
Jacksonville edges out Gulf Shores for sun in May: 41% clear historically versus 35% (8-year ERA5 average, a 6-point gap). Both are viable — Jacksonville is the safer bet.
What you are reading: 8-year historical averages, not a forecast.
Either destination can still surprise you this specific May. For this
week’s actual forecast, each destination links to its live page below.
Gulf Shores
AL
- Clear days, May
- 35%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 81°F
- Early May (1st–15th)
- 42%
- Late May (16th–end)
- 29%
- Rain frequency
- 40% of days
Jacksonville
FL
- Clear days, May
- 41%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 85°F
- Early May (1st–15th)
- 46%
- Late May (16th–end)
- 37%
- Rain frequency
- 33% of days
Compare Gulf Shores vs Jacksonville in another month
All percentages are historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 8 full years (2018–2025). “Clear” means avg high ≥ 72 °F, precipitation < 1 mm, and a non-precipitation weather code. This is history, not a forecast. The live 7-day outlook for any destination is on its own page and may differ from the long-run average. Data from Open-Meteo.