ERA5 almanac comparison — 8 years of real data
Gulf Shores vs Newport Beach: weather in May
Gulf Shores edges out Newport Beach for sun in May: 35% clear historically versus 8% (8-year ERA5 average, a 27-point gap). Gulf Shores also sees measurably more rain than Newport Beach this month (40% vs 7% of days). Both are viable — Gulf Shores 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
Newport Beach
CA
- Clear days, May
- 8%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 67°F
- Early May (1st–15th)
- 11%
- Late May (16th–end)
- 5%
- Rain frequency
- 7% of days
Compare Gulf Shores vs Newport Beach 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.