Tucson, AZ weather in May
In May, Tucson sees highs around 92°F and lows around 62°F: hot and dry. There are about 1 day with rain. Plan outdoor time for mornings and evenings.
- Normal high
- 92°F
- Normal low
- 62°F
- Wet days
- 1
- 0.2 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 86°F | 98°F |
| Normal low | 57°F | 66°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 4% | 4% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 5:37 am / 7:04 pm | 5:18 am / 7:24 pm |
| Daylight | 13.4 h | 14.1 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Arizona time (no daylight saving)).
A typical May day
- 6 am62°Fdew point 31°F
- 9 am78°Fdew point 31°F
- Noon86°Fdew point 27°F
- 3 pm90°Fdew point 25°F
- 6 pm88°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 pm79°Fdew point 28°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Davis Monthan AFB (5 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 78% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 15%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F2 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more22 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow1 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in1 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 31
Average days per May, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in May
Normal precipitation is 0.2 in; a dry May brings about 0.0 in and a wet one about 0.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202020: average high 97°F
- Coolest May2019: average high 85°F
- Wettest May2019: 1.2 in
- Driest May1991: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading109°F (May 22, 2005)
- Lowest reading43°F (May 1, 2010)
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 | 83°F | 92°F | 101°F |
| Normal low | 53°F | 62°F | 71°F |
| Wet days | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Comfortable days | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| Daylight | 13.0 h | 13.8 h | 14.2 h |
Highs change by +9°F from April and +9°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Cooler: Sedona, AZ189 mi · high 84°F · 3 wet days
How Tucson ranks in May
- Normal high14th warmest of 378 cities; 9th of 13 in Arizona
- Wet days17th driest of 378
- Comfortable days290th most of 339
What to pack for Tucson in May
- Light, breathable clothing – highs near 92°F
- Layers – afternoons near 92°F but nights near 62°F
Heating and cooling
May has 4 heating degree days and 370 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 8% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Tucson in May?
The normal high is 92°F and the normal low is 62°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 109°F (May 22, 2005).
Does it rain a lot in Tucson in May?
About 1 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.2 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2019 (1.2 in); the driest was in 1991, with no measurable precipitation.
Is May a good time to visit Tucson?
May ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Tucson (46 out of 100). It has about 2 comfortable days and about 22 days at 90°F or hotter. The best months are January, February and March.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Tucson Intl Airport (USW00023160), 6.5 mi SSW of the city center, 2,549 ft (68 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Davis Monthan AFB (USW00023109), 4.6 mi SSE of the city center, 2,654 ft (173 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Tucson International Airport (722740-23160), 6.4 mi SSW of the city center, 2,551 ft (70 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.