Weather in Malaga during May 2009
Very dry, rather warm, but often breezy.
Temperatures
The average maximum temperature during May 2009 in Malaga was 23.7 Celsius (75F), and that was nearly 1 Celsius (1.8F) above normal for the time of year. The average minimum was 16.1 Celsius (61F), which was nearly 2 Celsius (3.5F) above the normal May value.
The highest temperature recorded during the month was 28.3 Celsius (83F) on the 26th, but the 15th was only 0.1 Celsius cooler. There were 5 other days with maxima exceeding 25 Celsius (77F), these mostly occurring during the second week. There were only 2 days during the month with maxima below 20 Celsius (68F), the 2nd, with a high of 19.5 Celsius (67F), and the 3rd, when a persistent breeze from the relatively cold sea restricted the maximum to 17.8 Celsius (64F).
There were several fairly warm nights during May, more especially after mid month. There were 11 nights when the minimum remained above 17 Celsius (63F), but only 4 nights with lows above 18 Celsius (64F) occurred The warmest night was that of the 21st/22nd with a minimum of 19.1 Celsius (67F). No cold nights were reported during May, but on 8 occasions minima were below 15 Celsius (59F). In fact, 6 out of the first 8 nights of the month had these cooler temperatures, with the lowest reading, 12.7 Celsius (55F), occurred on the night of the 3rd/4th.
Sea temperatures were generally 17 Celsius (63F) during the first week, rising to 18 Celsius (64F), and eventually, during the last week the temperature reached 19 Celsius (66F). Arguably, the water was then warm enough for bathing.
Rain
The total rainfall during May was 3.6 millimetres (0.14 inches) and that was less than 20% of the monthly average. Measurable rain fell on 3 days, with only 2 days when the rainfall exceeded 1.0 millimetre (0.04 inches). The rain occurred around the middle of the second week and in a brief thundery interlude during the fourth week. The wettest day was the 9th with a total of 1.5 millimetres (0.06 inches).
Across southern Spain, May was generally a very dry month. The table below shows the total rainfall for the month, and as a percentage of the long-term average; and also the number of days with rain falling, plus the average.
*incomplete data
Thunder
Thunderstorms, mainly at fairly high levels affected mostly coastal areas from Marbella eastwards from mid evening on the 23rd until around dawn on the 24th. Despite some vivid displays of lightning, heavy rain was very localised, and in west Malaga, although thunderstorms lasted until almost dawn, no measurable rain fell after midnight. On the afternoon of the 30th, temperatures in excess of 30 Celsius (86F) helped to set off severe thunderstorms north of the Sierra Nevada. These weakened as they drifted southeastwards, but not before they had deposited some large hailstones in the Granada area.
Wind
Moderate or fresh northwesterly winds occurred at times during the first half of May, although the strongest gust, 29 kn (33mph) early on the 3rd, blew from the southeast. After mid month, winds were generally much lighter with the usual daily summer pattern developing. This consisted of light or gentle northwesterlies until late morning, followed by light southeasterly sea breezes during the afternoon. The breeze normally died away during the evening with the land breeze from the northwest becoming evident overnight.
Fog
Sea fog appeared to be absent this month.
The average maximum temperature during May 2009 in Malaga was 23.7 Celsius (75F), and that was nearly 1 Celsius (1.8F) above normal for the time of year. The average minimum was 16.1 Celsius (61F), which was nearly 2 Celsius (3.5F) above the normal May value.
The highest temperature recorded during the month was 28.3 Celsius (83F) on the 26th, but the 15th was only 0.1 Celsius cooler. There were 5 other days with maxima exceeding 25 Celsius (77F), these mostly occurring during the second week. There were only 2 days during the month with maxima below 20 Celsius (68F), the 2nd, with a high of 19.5 Celsius (67F), and the 3rd, when a persistent breeze from the relatively cold sea restricted the maximum to 17.8 Celsius (64F).
There were several fairly warm nights during May, more especially after mid month. There were 11 nights when the minimum remained above 17 Celsius (63F), but only 4 nights with lows above 18 Celsius (64F) occurred The warmest night was that of the 21st/22nd with a minimum of 19.1 Celsius (67F). No cold nights were reported during May, but on 8 occasions minima were below 15 Celsius (59F). In fact, 6 out of the first 8 nights of the month had these cooler temperatures, with the lowest reading, 12.7 Celsius (55F), occurred on the night of the 3rd/4th.
Sea temperatures were generally 17 Celsius (63F) during the first week, rising to 18 Celsius (64F), and eventually, during the last week the temperature reached 19 Celsius (66F). Arguably, the water was then warm enough for bathing.
Rain
The total rainfall during May was 3.6 millimetres (0.14 inches) and that was less than 20% of the monthly average. Measurable rain fell on 3 days, with only 2 days when the rainfall exceeded 1.0 millimetre (0.04 inches). The rain occurred around the middle of the second week and in a brief thundery interlude during the fourth week. The wettest day was the 9th with a total of 1.5 millimetres (0.06 inches).
Across southern Spain, May was generally a very dry month. The table below shows the total rainfall for the month, and as a percentage of the long-term average; and also the number of days with rain falling, plus the average.
| Reporting Station | Total in mm. | as a % | Rain Days (Av.) |
| Malaga Airport | 3 | 12 | 3 (3) |
| Granada Airport | 19 | 68 | 2 (4) |
| Almeria | 3 | 29 | 3 (2) |
| Seville | Trace | 0 | 0 (4) |
| Cordoba | 4 | 12 | 3 (5) |
| Jerez de la Frontera | 11* | 30 | 2 (4) |
| Murcia | 4 | 13 | 2 (2) |
Thunder
Thunderstorms, mainly at fairly high levels affected mostly coastal areas from Marbella eastwards from mid evening on the 23rd until around dawn on the 24th. Despite some vivid displays of lightning, heavy rain was very localised, and in west Malaga, although thunderstorms lasted until almost dawn, no measurable rain fell after midnight. On the afternoon of the 30th, temperatures in excess of 30 Celsius (86F) helped to set off severe thunderstorms north of the Sierra Nevada. These weakened as they drifted southeastwards, but not before they had deposited some large hailstones in the Granada area.
Wind
Moderate or fresh northwesterly winds occurred at times during the first half of May, although the strongest gust, 29 kn (33mph) early on the 3rd, blew from the southeast. After mid month, winds were generally much lighter with the usual daily summer pattern developing. This consisted of light or gentle northwesterlies until late morning, followed by light southeasterly sea breezes during the afternoon. The breeze normally died away during the evening with the land breeze from the northwest becoming evident overnight.
Fog
Sea fog appeared to be absent this month.