Des Moines

Iowa Weather in May

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

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West Des Moines Ames Urbandale Ankeny

Planning a journey to Iowa, 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 Iowa in May

Iowa, the United States of America is a region in the United States of America. May in Iowa generally has temperatures that range from pleasant to warm, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between pleasant in Mason City at 21°C (70°F) to warm in Keokuk at 23°C (73°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 12°C (54°F) in Keokuk and 8°C (46°F) in Mason City.

To explore the conditions in Iowa, the United States of America in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Dyersville with an average of 97 mm (3.8 in) to high rainfall in Osceola with 148 mm (5.8 in).

Average sunshine

Many locations offer abundant sunshine during this month. For instance, West Des Moines enjoys approximately 280 hours of sunlight, ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Iowa by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Iowa - and find the best time to visit. (based on West Des Moines)

January-1°C (30°F) February0°C (32°F) March10°C (50°F) April17°C (63°F) May22°C (72°F) June28°C (82°F) This monthJuly30°C (86°F) August29°C (84°F) September25°C (77°F) October18°C (64°F) November10°C (50°F) December2°C (36°F)
Best Time to Visit Iowa →

Best Places to Visit in Iowa in May

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Iowa.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
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 Iowa

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

Temperature range in Iowa (May)

Precipitation variation in Iowa (May)

West Des Moines

In May West Des Moines generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are very good that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
22°C (72°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
11°C (52°F)
17°C (63°F)
Monthly sun hours
225 hours
280 hours
311 hours
Monthly rainfall
99 mm (3.9 in)
106 mm (4.2 in)
154 mm (6.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
12 days
12 days
Weather conditions
good
very good
very good
Climate in West Des Moines →

Ames

In May Ames generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are very good that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
22°C (72°F)
27°C (81°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
10°C (50°F)
16°C (61°F)
Monthly sun hours
225 hours
280 hours
311 hours
Monthly rainfall
116 mm (4.6 in)
131 mm (5.2 in)
135 mm (5.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
13 days
Weather conditions
mixed
very good
very good
Climate in Ames →

Urbandale

In May Urbandale generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are very good that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
22°C (72°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
11°C (52°F)
17°C (63°F)
Monthly sun hours
225 hours
280 hours
311 hours
Monthly rainfall
108 mm (4.3 in)
114 mm (4.5 in)
172 mm (6.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
13 days
12 days
Weather conditions
mixed
very good
very good
Climate in Urbandale →

Ankeny

In May Ankeny generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are very good that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
22°C (72°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
10°C (50°F)
16°C (61°F)
Monthly sun hours
225 hours
280 hours
311 hours
Monthly rainfall
118 mm (4.6 in)
113 mm (4.4 in)
168 mm (6.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
13 days
13 days
Weather conditions
mixed
very good
very good
Climate in Ankeny →

Clive

In May Clive generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are very good that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
22°C (72°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
11°C (52°F)
17°C (63°F)
Monthly sun hours
225 hours
280 hours
311 hours
Monthly rainfall
106 mm (4.2 in)
115 mm (4.5 in)
168 mm (6.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
13 days
12 days
Weather conditions
mixed
very good
very good
Climate in Clive →

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

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Iowa in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
West Des Moines 22°C (72°F) 11°C (52°F) 106 mm (4.2 in)
Ames 22°C (72°F) 10°C (50°F) 131 mm (5.2 in)
Urbandale 22°C (72°F) 11°C (52°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Ankeny 22°C (72°F) 10°C (50°F) 113 mm (4.4 in)
Clive 22°C (72°F) 11°C (52°F) 115 mm (4.5 in)
Cedar Falls 22°C (72°F) 10°C (50°F) 113 mm (4.4 in)

Iowa weather in May: frequently asked questions

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

In May, Iowa, the United States of America generally has very good weather conditions. West Des Moines sees daytime temperatures near 22°C (72°F), with nights cooling to roughly 11°C (52°F).

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

Average temperatures in Iowa, the United States of America during May range from a nighttime low near 11°C (52°F) to a daytime high around 22°C (72°F) in West Des Moines.

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

Iowa, the United States of America sees substantial rainfall in May. West Des Moines typically averages about 106 mm (4.2 in), a mix of wet and dry days, but bring an umbrella.

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

Given the typically very good weather conditions in West Des Moines, May might be a good time to visit Iowa, the United States of America.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in September offering mostly excellent weather in West Des Moines. In contrast, January, February, March, November and December tend to have less favorable weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Iowa.

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.

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