Cape Cod

United States of America Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in the United States of America in May.

Planning a journey to the United States of America this May and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in the United States of America in May

The United States of America has a wide variety of climate types. During May, you can expect temperatures that range from very cold to very hot and precipitation levels ranging from almost none to heavy.

Temperatures

Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is very cold in Point Barrow at -1°C (30°F) to very hot in Furnace Creek at 37°C (99°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 22°C (72°F) in Furnace Creek and -6°C (21°F) in Point Barrow.

For a closer look at conditions across the United States of America, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From almost no rainfall in Palm Desert with an average of 0.2 mm (0.01 in) to heavy rainfall in Captain Cook with 393 mm (15 in).

Average sunshine

May brings good sunshine to many areas. New York City sees around 258 hours of sunlight, great for visitors looking for bright days.

Explore the United States of America by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in the United States of America — and find the best time to visit. (based on New York City)

Best Places to Visit in the United States of America in May

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across the United States of America.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in the United States of America

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in the United States of America?

Temperature range in the United States of America (May)

Precipitation variation in the United States of America (May)

New York City

In May New York City generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
22°C (72°F)
27°C (81°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
13°C (55°F)
19°C (66°F)
Monthly sun hours
225 hours
258 hours
259 hours
Monthly rainfall
106 mm (4.2 in)
112 mm (4.4 in)
138 mm (5.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
12 days
13 days
Weather conditions

Kissimmee

In May Kissimmee generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 19°C (66°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
31°C (88°F)
33°C (91°F)
Min temperature
16°C (61°F)
19°C (66°F)
22°C (72°F)
Monthly sun hours
300 hours
300 hours
330 hours
Monthly rainfall
74 mm (2.9 in)
117 mm (4.6 in)
216 mm (8.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
11 days
20 days
Weather conditions

Orlando

In May Orlando generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 20°C (68°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
31°C (88°F)
33°C (91°F)
Min temperature
17°C (63°F)
20°C (68°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly rainfall
77 mm (3 in)
114 mm (4.5 in)
199 mm (7.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
11 days
19 days
Weather conditions

Los Angeles

In May Los Angeles generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 21°C (70°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 14°C (57°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
20°C (68°F)
21°C (70°F)
22°C (72°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
14°C (57°F)
16°C (61°F)
Monthly sun hours
305 hours
276 hours
275 hours
Monthly rainfall
14 mm (0.6 in)
6.2 mm (0.2 in)
0.4 mm (0.02 in)
Monthly rainy days
3 days
2 days
0 days
Weather conditions

Destin

In May Destin generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 20°C (68°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
24°C (75°F)
28°C (82°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
16°C (61°F)
20°C (68°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly rainfall
150 mm (5.9 in)
93 mm (3.7 in)
97 mm (3.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
7 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in the United States of America.

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in the United States of America in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
New York City 22°C (72°F) 13°C (55°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Los Angeles 21°C (70°F) 14°C (57°F) 6.2 mm (0.2 in)
Miami 30°C (86°F) 22°C (72°F) 146 mm (5.7 in)
Sedona 27°C (81°F) 10°C (50°F) 16 mm (0.6 in)
Houston 30°C (86°F) 21°C (70°F) 161 mm (6.3 in)
Las Vegas 31°C (88°F) 18°C (64°F) 2.7 mm (0.1 in)

The United States of America weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in the United States of America in May?

In May, the United States of America generally has pleasant weather conditions. New York City sees daytime temperatures near 22°C (72°F), with nights cooling to roughly 13°C (55°F).

What is the average temperature in the United States of America in May?

Daytime temperatures in New York City peak at roughly 22°C (72°F) in May, dropping to about 13°C (55°F) overnight.

Does the United States of America get a lot of rain in May?

the United States of America sees substantial rainfall in May. New York City typically averages about 112 mm (4.4 in), a mix of wet and dry days, but bring an umbrella.

Is May a Good Time to Visit the United States of America?

Given the typically pleasant weather conditions in New York City, May might be a good time to visit the United States of America. It's worth noting that weather conditions might differ depending on the location you visit.

On average, the best time to visit the United States of America is in September with generally perfect weather in New York City. On the other hand, the weather in January, February, March and December tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in the United States of America.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to the United States of America? Get detailed 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.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.