Big Bear Lake, CA weather in May
Big Bear Lake is mild and dry in May: highs average 66°F and nights drop to about 37°F. Expect about 2 wet days. Snowfall averages about 0.6 in. A great month for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 66°F
- Normal low
- 37°F
- Wet days
- 2
- 0.4 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.6 in
- normal snowfall
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 61°F | 71°F |
| Normal low | 34°F | 40°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 9% | 5% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 5:57 am / 7:31 pm | 5:37 am / 7:53 pm |
| Daylight | 13.6 h | 14.3 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Pacific Time).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)20 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow2 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in1 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below8 of 31
Average days per May, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in May
Normal precipitation is 0.4 in; a dry May brings about 0.05 in and a wet one about 0.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 0.6 in.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202009: average high 75°F
- Coolest May2019: average high 56°F
- Wettest May1998: 2.3 in
- Driest May1997: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading87°F (May 28, 2003)
- Lowest reading23°F (May 11, 2003)
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 | 57°F | 66°F | 75°F |
| Normal low | 31°F | 37°F | 44°F |
| Wet days | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Comfortable days | 9 | 20 | 19 |
| Daylight | 13.1 h | 13.9 h | 14.4 h |
Highs change by +9°F from April and +9°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: San Bernardino, CA24 mi · high 80°F · 3 wet days
How Big Bear Lake ranks in May
- Normal high331st warmest of 378 cities; 55th of 60 in California
- Wet days31st driest of 378
What to pack for Big Bear Lake in May
- A warm jacket – lows near 37°F, highs near 66°F
- Layers – afternoons near 66°F but nights near 37°F
Frost in May
The last spring frost typically comes around May 27; in 1 year in 10 it comes after Jun 9. All frost dates for Big Bear Lake.
Heating and cooling
May has 419 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 7% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Big Bear Lake in May?
The normal high is 66°F and the normal low is 37°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest May reading was 23°F (most recently on May 11, 2003).
Does it rain a lot in Big Bear Lake in May?
About 2 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.4 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 1998 (2.3 in); the driest was in 1997, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Big Bear Lake in May?
Yes. Normal snowfall in May is 0.6 in.
Is May a good time to visit Big Bear Lake?
May ranks 3rd of 12 months on our comfort score for Big Bear Lake (82 out of 100). It has about 20 comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best month is September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and frost dates: Big Bear Lake (USC00040741), 0.3 mi W of the city center, 6,753 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: snow depth, humidity and wind by hour, cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).