ERA5 almanac comparison — 8 years of real data
Laguna Beach vs Panama City Beach: weather in May
Panama City Beach edges out Laguna Beach for sun in May: 43% clear historically versus 21% (8-year ERA5 average, a 22-point gap). Panama City Beach also sees measurably more rain than Laguna Beach this month (36% vs 12% of days). Both are viable — Panama City Beach 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.
Laguna Beach
CA
- Clear days, May
- 21%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 70°F
- Early May (1st–15th)
- 26%
- Late May (16th–end)
- 16%
- Rain frequency
- 12% of days
Panama City Beach
FL
- Clear days, May
- 43%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 81°F
- Early May (1st–15th)
- 48%
- Late May (16th–end)
- 38%
- Rain frequency
- 36% of days
Compare Laguna Beach vs Panama City 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.