New York City weather in May (New York State, United States of America)
What should you pack for a trip to New York City in May? Explore our page to find a thorough overview of this month's weather conditions.
Temperatures
During May, New York City usually has high temperatures and high rainfall. Daytime temperatures are expected to be around 22°C, cooling off to about 13°C at night.
Precipitation
New York City in May usually receives high rainfall, averaging around 112 mm for the month. Records from the past 30 years suggest that around 12 days will experience rain.
Average sunshine
The month enjoys around 258 hours of sunshine, creating mostly sunny days with good weather conditions.
Average windspeed
May has wind speeds averaging 5 m/s. You can expect gentle to moderate winds that move small trees and make flags wave steadily on typical days. Conditions typically range from light breezes to moderate winds.
Average water temperature in May
The water temperature sits at a bone-chilling 10°C, making swimming virtually impossible for most visitors.Should you favor a climate that's both dry and comfortably warm, September typically offers the most agreeable circumstances. If you're seeking pleasant, dry and sunny weather somewhere else in the world, our weather planner can help you explore other options.
Select a Month of Interest
Check the conditions for any month of the year.
For a detailed overview over the year and the best time to visit the United States of America, check out our New York City's climate page.
New York City, monthly averages in May
Where to go in the United States of America in May
Find out more about the weather in the United States of America and which places have the best travel conditions in this month.





Select a Month of Interest
Check the conditions for any month of the year.
For a detailed overview over the year and the best time to visit the United States of America, check out our New York City's climate page.
So, what should you wear in this month?
For visitors traveling to New York City, we recommend wearing layers. So maybe a skirt, t-shirt, shorts for during the day and jeans and a warm jacket for some days and evenings. Bring a rain jacket in case it rains during your stay. Plan on layering your clothes. With a water temperature of around 10°C there is no need to bring your swimwear.What To Do
We rated the following activities from 1 (least suitable) to 10 (best) to do.
Interested in more climate information?
This site provides you with all the information you need about the climate in New York City.
Our site offers climate and forecast data for every country in the world. Are you going to the United States of America? On this website you can find historical weather averages for many cities in the United States of America. Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.