ERA5 almanac comparison — 8 years of real data
Gulf Shores vs San Luis Obispo: weather in May
Gulf Shores edges out San Luis Obispo for sun in May: 35% clear historically versus 27% (8-year ERA5 average, a 8-point gap). Gulf Shores also sees measurably more rain than San Luis Obispo this month (40% vs 6% 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
San Luis Obispo
CA
- Clear days, May
- 27%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 69°F
- Early May (1st–15th)
- 32%
- Late May (16th–end)
- 23%
- Rain frequency
- 6% of days
Compare Gulf Shores vs San Luis Obispo 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.