Weather for New York in May is typically good with an average maximum temperature of +70°F during the day, and approximately 7 sunny days monthly. Typically, there are about 15 rainy days with the total average precipitation that falls in May around 98 mm. Expect good weather and pack accordingly to enjoy the outdoors. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Average weather
☀️
+70°F
Avg. max. temperature
+36°F
Min.
+95°F
Max.
98 mm
Total precipitation
64%
Avg. humidity
4 m/s
Avg. wind
7 ☀️
Sunny Days
8 ⛅️
Cloudy
15 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: New York has good weather in May.
Average temperature in New York in May
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in New York for May based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The expected average maximum temperature in May is +72°F with a maximum of +84°F and a minimum of +46°F.
The average maximum temperature goes up 33% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +61°F to +73°F.
Is New York warm or cold in May?
New York is typically mild in May.
Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +61°F to +70°F. The minimum temperature also goes up from +46°F to +55°F.
Pack a light jacket as it will be warm in the day and cool in the evenings.
Take a look at how May is compared to other months in New York:
Water temperature in New York in May
Water in New York in May is Cold. It varies from +45°F to +58°F, with an average of +51°F.The air temperature averaging +70°F is higher than the water temperature.
In May, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:
The warmest water temperatures in New York are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +74°F. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +39°F.
Can you swim in New York in May?
We would not recommend swimming in New York in May, the water is very cold (+51°F on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.
Climate in New York in May
New York weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
April
May
June
Avg. temperature
+61°F
+70°F
+79°F
Min. temperature
+19°F
+36°F
+45°F
Max. temperature
+97°F
+95°F
+97°F
Rainfall
103 mm
98 mm
101 mm
Wind
5 m/s
4 m/s
4 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+44°F
+51°F
+64°F
Humidity
59%
64%
65%
Air pressure
1014 HPa
1015 HPa
1014 HPa
Sunny days
7
7
7
Cloudy days
7
8
7
Rainy days
15
15
13
Snowy days
0
0
0
May often has better weather than April.It’s getting warmer as May arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +61°F to +70°F during the day.As May arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 103 mm to 98 mm.Humidity rises from 59% to 64%.Winds are calmer in comparison to April, going down from 5 m/s to 4 m/s on average.The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 7 sunny days during the month.
June brings much the same weather, it remains good.
Wind speed in New York in May based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 4 m/s getting up to 8 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in New York is gradually decreasing during May, going from 7 m/s to 3 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during May in New York based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in May is about 56 mm, with a 29% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 20 mm, which is considered light rain.On average, there are about 9 rainy days during May, so prepare to bring an umbrella.
Here’s how May is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
New York wettest month is August, where a typical day has a 42% chance of precipitation and 113 mm of rainfall per day. February, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 24% chance of precipitation and 48 mm of rainfall per day.
How was the weather last May in New York?
This is the weather in New York in May 2023:
1 May
☁️
+62°F
2 May
☁️
+58°F
3 May
☁️
+57°F
4 May
🌧️
+55°F
5 May
☁️
+61°F
6 May
☀️
+73°F
7 May
☀️
+77°F
8 May
☀️
+78°F
9 May
☀️
+73°F
10 May
☀️
+72°F
11 May
☀️
+81°F
12 May
☀️
+85°F
13 May
☀️
+81°F
14 May
☀️
+75°F
15 May
☀️
+75°F
16 May
☀️
+80°F
17 May
☀️
+76°F
18 May
☀️
+59°F
19 May
☀️
+68°F
20 May
🌫️
+65°F
21 May
🌫️
+72°F
22 May
☀️
+73°F
23 May
☀️
+66°F
24 May
☀️
+75°F
25 May
☀️
+69°F
26 May
☀️
+73°F
27 May
☀️
+75°F
28 May
☀️
+74°F
29 May
☀️
+76°F
30 May
☀️
+69°F
31 May
☀️
+73°F
In May 2023 New York had 24 sunny days, 4 cloudy days, and 1 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +72°F, with an absolute maximum of +84°F and a minimum of +55°F. The average humidity was 63%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 29%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 12 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how New York climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in New York in May has not changed that much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1996 (+59°F) and the highest in 2016 (+65°F). The driest year was 1982 with only 711 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2023 with 1785 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in New York in May:
Is May a good time to visit New York?
May is a really good time to go to New York. The weather is nice so plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring. Check out other good time to visit New York.
Can you sunbathe in New York in May?
May has mild temperatures in New York. Not ideal for sunbathing, but still good for daytime outdoor activities, but plan for cool evenings. Pack a light jacket and shorts!
Can you swim in New York in May?
Swimming in New York in May is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is New York rainy in May?
New York is often rainy in May. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in New York in May?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in New York in May, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in New York, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.