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SunnyDays

ERA5 almanac — 8 years of real data

Laguna Beach in May

Laguna Beach in May: 12% of days see measurable rain, 70°F average high, 21% of days historically clear (n=248, ERA5 2018–2025).

Laguna Beach in May is historically a poor month for sun: only 21% of days clear across 8 years (n=248, avg high 70°F). July is the clearest month for Laguna Beach historically. Historical average, not a forecast.

What you are reading: 8-year historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis, not a forecast. A month that is historically 90% clear can still be overcast on your specific trip. For this week’s actual forecast, see the live Laguna Beach page. Both can be true at once: “historically strong in this month; this particular week is not.” We label which is which.

Early vs. Late May

Clear-sky percentage for Laguna Beach in May, split by half-month. “n” is the number of days sampled across 8 years (2018–2025).
Period % Clear days Sample (n) Avg high
Early May
1st–15th		 26% n=120 70°F
Late May
16th–end		 16% n=128 70°F
Full month average 21% n=248 70°F

Sunshine & warmth in May

A second measure using actual sunshine hours (ERA5 sunshine_duration), not the daily weather code. A Lowcountry day with 12 hours of sun and a 25-minute afternoon storm is counted below as a warm, sunny day — because it was. How we define this.

Sunshine-based metrics for Laguna Beach in May. Primary: % of days ≥ 72°F with > 6 h of sunshine.
Period Warm & sunny (≥72°F, >6 h sun) Sample (n)
Early May
1st–15th		 27% n=120
Late May
16th–end		 17% n=128
Full month average 22% n=248
12.7 h median sunshine per day 95% of days exceed 8 h sunshine 12% of days see ≥ 1 mm rain — rain is not hidden
Comparison (old vs new): WMO-code “clear” bar: 21%. Sunshine-based “warm & sunny”: 22%. The two measures are nearly identical here — no convective-storm bias for this climate and month.

Bottom line

Laguna Beach is mostly overcast in May historically: only 21% of days are clear across 8 years (n=248), avg high 70°F. If you want sun in Laguna Beach, July is historically much better. Most visitors this month will see more clouds than sun.

→ See all destinations in July — historically the best month for sun in Laguna Beach.

Every month in Laguna Beach

Compare across all months with data. Numbers are historical clear-sky %.

Historical clear-sky % for Laguna Beach, all months, ERA5 2018–2025.
Month % Clear Sample (n)
January 14% n=248 All destinations →
February 14% n=226 All destinations →
March 9% n=248 All destinations →
April 24% n=240 All destinations →
May ← this page 21% n=248 All destinations →
June 60% n=240 All destinations →
July 93% n=248 All destinations →
August 93% n=248 All destinations →
September 83% n=240 All destinations →
October 70% n=248 All destinations →
November 37% n=240 All destinations →
December 9% n=248 All destinations →

Frequently asked

Does it rain in Laguna Beach in May?

Rarely. Only 12% of days in Laguna Beach see measurable rain in May, based on 8 years of ERA5 historical data (n=248 days, 2018–2025). This is a historical average, not a forecast.

Is Laguna Beach good for sun in May?

Not usually. Laguna Beach is historically overcast in May: only 21% of days are clear (avg high 70°F, n=248 days, ERA5 2018–2025). July is historically far better for sun here.

How Laguna Beach compares in May

Head-to-head clear-sky comparisons against destinations travelers plausibly weigh against Laguna Beach this month — same passport tier, similar flight distance, both sides from the same 8-year ERA5 record.

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.