South Dakota

South Dakota Weather in May

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

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Sioux Falls Pierre Rapid City Deadwood

Planning a getaway to South Dakota, the United States of America this May and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in South Dakota in May

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

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from mild in Custer at 16°C (61°F) to warm in Vermillion at 23°C (73°F). At night it cools down to 9°C (48°F) in Vermillion and 3°C (37°F) in Custer.

For specific regional insights in South Dakota, the United States of America, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Watertown with an average of 73 mm (2.9 in) to high rainfall in Deadwood with 145 mm (5.7 in).

Explore South Dakota by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in South Dakota — and find the best time to visit. (based on Sioux Falls)

January-3°C (27°F) February-2°C (28°F) March7°C (45°F) April14°C (57°F) May21°C (70°F) June26°C (79°F) This monthJuly29°C (84°F) August28°C (82°F) September24°C (75°F) October16°C (61°F) November8°C (46°F) December-2°C (28°F)
Best Time to Visit South Dakota →

Best Places to Visit in South Dakota in May

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

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 South Dakota

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

Temperature range in South Dakota (May)

Precipitation variation in South Dakota (May)

Sioux Falls

In May Sioux Falls generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 21°C (70°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
14°C (57°F)
21°C (70°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
8°C (46°F)
14°C (57°F)
Monthly rainfall
76 mm (3 in)
91 mm (3.6 in)
124 mm (4.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
12 days
13 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
perfect
pleasant
Climate in Sioux Falls →

Pierre

In May Pierre generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 21°C (70°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°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)
27°C (81°F)
Min temperature
0°C (32°F)
7°C (45°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly rainfall
49 mm (1.9 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
99 mm (3.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
12 days
12 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
perfect
perfect
Climate in Pierre →

Rapid City

In May Rapid City generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°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)
18°C (64°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
1°C (34°F)
6°C (43°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly rainfall
58 mm (2.3 in)
112 mm (4.4 in)
90 mm (3.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
14 days
13 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
tolerable
perfect
Climate in Rapid City →

Deadwood

In May Deadwood generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
16°C (61°F)
23°C (73°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
4°C (39°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly rainfall
99 mm (3.9 in)
145 mm (5.7 in)
105 mm (4.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
16 days
14 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
unpleasant
pleasant
Climate in Deadwood →

Custer

In May Custer generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
16°C (61°F)
22°C (72°F)
Min temperature
-2°C (28°F)
3°C (37°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly rainfall
60 mm (2.4 in)
99 mm (3.9 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
15 days
14 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
tolerable
perfect
Climate in Custer →

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

Popular cities in May

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Sioux Falls 21°C (70°F) 8°C (46°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Pierre 21°C (70°F) 7°C (45°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Rapid City 18°C (64°F) 6°C (43°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Deadwood 16°C (61°F) 4°C (39°F) 145 mm (5.7 in)
Custer 16°C (61°F) 3°C (37°F) 99 mm (3.9 in)
Hot Springs 21°C (70°F) 5°C (41°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)

South Dakota weather in May: frequently asked questions

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

South Dakota, the United States of America typically experiences perfect weather in May, part of the season. Daytime highs in Sioux Falls average around 21°C (70°F), and temperatures drop to about 8°C (46°F) at night.

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

Sioux Falls averages a daytime maximum of 21°C (70°F) in May, with overnight lows close to 8°C (46°F).

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

Not particularly. Sioux Falls averages just 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain in May, making it a mostly dry month for South Dakota, the United States of America.

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

We believe that May is one of the best times to visit South Dakota, the United States of America with overall perfect weather in Sioux Falls. It's worth noting that weather conditions might differ depending on the location you visit.

On average, the best time to visit South Dakota, the United States of America is in May, July, August and September with generally perfect weather in Sioux Falls. In contrast, January, February, March and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in South Dakota.

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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