Bar Harbor

New England Weather in May

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

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Boston Bar Harbor Portsmouth Providence

Planning a journey to New England, 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 New England in May

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

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from mild in Bar Harbor at 18°C (64°F) to pleasant in Hartford at 22°C (72°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 10°C (50°F) in Hartford and 8°C (46°F) in Bar Harbor.

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

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Bangor with an average of 86 mm (3.4 in) to high rainfall in Portsmouth with 116 mm (4.6 in).

Average sunshine

Most destinations offer generous amounts of sunshine this May. For example, Boston gets approximately 301 hours of sunlight, perfect for anyone wanting bright, sunny days.

Explore New England by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in New England — and find the best time to visit. (based on Boston)

January3°C (37°F) February3°C (37°F) March8°C (46°F) April14°C (57°F) May20°C (68°F) June24°C (75°F) This monthJuly29°C (84°F) August27°C (81°F) September24°C (75°F) October17°C (63°F) November12°C (54°F) December6°C (43°F)
Best Time to Visit New England →

Best Places to Visit in New England in May

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

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 New England

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

Temperature range in New England (May)

Precipitation variation in New England (May)

Boston

In May Boston generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
14°C (57°F)
20°C (68°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
11°C (52°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly sun hours
229 hours
301 hours
283 hours
Monthly rainfall
91 mm (3.6 in)
100 mm (3.9 in)
127 mm (5 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
12 days
14 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
pleasant
pleasant
Climate in Boston →

Bar Harbor

In May Bar Harbor generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
18°C (64°F)
21°C (70°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
8°C (46°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly rainfall
120 mm (4.7 in)
104 mm (4.1 in)
146 mm (5.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
13 days
Weather conditions
poor
tolerable
pleasant
Climate in Bar Harbor →

Portsmouth

In May Portsmouth generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
19°C (66°F)
23°C (73°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
8°C (46°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
223 hours
258 hours
274 hours
Monthly rainfall
111 mm (4.4 in)
116 mm (4.6 in)
139 mm (5.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
12 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
tolerable
pleasant
Climate in Portsmouth →

Providence

In May Providence generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 21°C (70°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
21°C (70°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
10°C (50°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly sun hours
223 hours
255 hours
276 hours
Monthly rainfall
109 mm (4.3 in)
88 mm (3.5 in)
140 mm (5.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
14 days
14 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
perfect
pleasant
Climate in Providence →

Burlington

In May Burlington generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 21°C (70°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
21°C (70°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
9°C (48°F)
14°C (57°F)
Monthly sun hours
210 hours
255 hours
270 hours
Monthly rainfall
81 mm (3.2 in)
107 mm (4.2 in)
131 mm (5.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
14 days
16 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
pleasant
pleasant
Climate in Burlington →

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

Popular cities in May

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Boston 20°C (68°F) 11°C (52°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
Bar Harbor 18°C (64°F) 8°C (46°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Portsmouth 19°C (66°F) 8°C (46°F) 116 mm (4.6 in)
Providence 21°C (70°F) 10°C (50°F) 88 mm (3.5 in)
Burlington 21°C (70°F) 9°C (48°F) 107 mm (4.2 in)
Hartford 22°C (72°F) 10°C (50°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)

New England weather in May: frequently asked questions

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

May in New England, the United States of America brings pleasant weather. In Boston, daytime temperatures are typically around 20°C (68°F) and nighttime lows hover near 11°C (52°F).

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

In Boston, the average daytime high in May is 20°C (68°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 11°C (52°F).

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

Boston typically receives notable rainfall in May, about 100 mm (3.9 in) on average across New England, the United States of America.

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

Given the typically pleasant weather conditions in Boston, May might be a good time to visit New England, the United States of America. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in August and September offering mostly perfect weather in Boston. The weather in January, February, March and December, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in New England.

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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