Chico, CA weather in May
In May, Chico sees highs around 81°F and lows around 53°F: warm and mostly dry. Expect about 4 wet days. Good for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 81°F
- Normal low
- 53°F
- Wet days
- 4
- 1.1 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 77°F | 85°F |
| Normal low | 50°F | 57°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 14% | 11% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:07 am / 8:01 pm | 5:41 am / 8:28 pm |
| Daylight | 13.9 h | 14.8 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Pacific Time).
A typical May day
- 6 am57°Fdew point 46°F
- 9 am68°Fdew point 45°F
- Noon76°Fdew point 43°F
- 3 pm80°Fdew point 42°F
- 6 pm78°Fdew point 44°F
- 9 pm67°Fdew point 47°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Red Bluff Muni Airport (37 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 77% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 18%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F13 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more6 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow4 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in3 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 1.1 in; a dry May brings about 0.2 in and a wet one about 1.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20201992: average high 91°F
- Coolest May1998: average high 68°F
- Wettest May1998: 4.7 in
- Driest May1992: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading103°F (May 31, 2001)
- Lowest reading31°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 | 73°F | 81°F | 89°F |
| Normal low | 47°F | 53°F | 60°F |
| Wet days | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Comfortable days | 17 | 13 | 5 |
| Daylight | 13.3 h | 14.4 h | 14.9 h |
Highs change by +8°F from April and +8°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Cooler: Santa Rosa, CA101 mi · high 75°F · 4 wet days
How Chico ranks in May
- Normal high121st warmest of 378 cities; 14th of 60 in California
- Wet days74th driest of 378
- Comfortable days178th most of 339
What to pack for Chico in May
- Layers – afternoons near 81°F but nights near 53°F
- Sunglasses and sunscreen – about 14.4 hours of daylight and highs near 81°F
Heating and cooling
May has 64 heating degree days and 133 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 5% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Chico in May?
The normal high is 81°F and the normal low is 53°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 103°F (May 31, 2001).
Does it rain a lot in Chico in May?
About 4 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.1 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 1998 (4.7 in); the driest was in 1992, with no measurable precipitation.
Is May a good time to visit Chico?
May ranks 3rd of 12 months on our comfort score for Chico (68 out of 100). It has about 13 comfortable days and about 6 days at 90°F or hotter. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Orland (USC00046506), 19 mi W of the city center, 254 ft (56 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Chico Univ Farm (USC00041715), 2.7 mi SSE of the city center, 185 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Red Bluff Muni Airport (USW00024216), 37 mi NW of the city center, 353 ft (155 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Red Bluff Municipal Arpt (725910-24216), 37 mi NW of the city center, 355 ft (157 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.