Seward, AK weather in May
May in Seward: chilly, with frequent rain. Highs 53°F, lows 39°F, about 14 days with rain.
- Normal high
- 53°F
- Normal low
- 39°F
- Wet days
- 14
- 3.5 in total
- Daylight
- 17.2 h
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 50°F | 56°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 42°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 46% | 41% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 5:54 am / 9:55 pm | 4:47 am / 11:03 pm |
| Daylight | 16.0 h | 18.3 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Alaska Time).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)3 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain (temperature and rain only)0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow14 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below2 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more12 of 31
Average days per May, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in May
Normal precipitation is 3.5 in; a dry May brings about 1.9 in and a wet one about 4.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.3 in.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202014: average high 59°F
- Coolest May1991: average high 48°F
- Wettest May1998: 11.4 in
- Driest May1992: 0.6 in
- Highest reading80°F (May 28, 2013)
- Lowest reading28°F (May 2, 2018)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
May compared with April and June
| April | May | June | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 45°F | 53°F | 59°F |
| Normal low | 32°F | 39°F | 46°F |
| Wet days | 14 | 14 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Daylight | 14.6 h | 17.2 h | 18.8 h |
Highs change by +8°F from April and +6°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Drier: Anchorage, AK79 mi · high 56°F · 7 wet days
How Seward ranks in May
- Normal high377th warmest of 378 cities; 7th of 8 in Alaska
- Wet days353rd driest of 378
What to pack for Seward in May
- A warm jacket – lows near 39°F, highs near 53°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 14 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 12 days
Frost in May
The last spring frost typically comes around May 2; in 1 year in 10 it comes after May 17. All frost dates for Seward.
Heating and cooling
May has 580 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Seward in May?
The normal high is 53°F and the normal low is 39°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest May reading was 28°F (most recently on May 2, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in Seward in May?
About 14 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.5 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 1998 (11.4 in); the driest was in 1992 (0.6 in).
Does it snow in Seward in May?
Yes. Normal snowfall in May is 0.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 12 days.
Is May a good time to visit Seward?
May ranks 4th of 12 months on our comfort score for Seward (57 out of 100). It has about 3 comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best months are June, July and August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Seward Airport (USW00026438), 1.9 mi NNE of the city center, 22 ft (67 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Seward 19N (USC00508377), 18 mi N of the city center, 518 ft (429 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour, cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).