Yosemite Valley, CA weather in May
May in Yosemite Valley: mild and mostly dry. Highs 71°F, lows 45°F, about 6 days with rain. A great month for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 71°F
- Normal low
- 45°F
- Wet days
- 6
- 1.9 in total
- Daylight
- 14.2 h
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 67°F | 75°F |
| Normal low | 41°F | 48°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 22% | 17% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:02 am / 7:48 pm | 5:38 am / 8:13 pm |
| Daylight | 13.8 h | 14.6 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)19 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow6 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below1 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per May, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in May
Normal precipitation is 1.9 in; a dry May brings about 0.8 in and a wet one about 2.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.1 in.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202001: average high 81°F
- Coolest May1998: average high 60°F
- Wettest May2019: 5.3 in
- Driest May2010: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading90°F (May 31, 2001)
- Lowest reading25°F (May 18, 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 | 63°F | 71°F | 81°F |
| Normal low | 38°F | 45°F | 51°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 6 | 2 |
| Comfortable days | 16 | 19 | 10 |
| Daylight | 13.2 h | 14.2 h | 14.7 h |
Highs change by +8°F from April and +10°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: Fresno, CA70 mi · high 83°F · 3 wet days
- Drier: Fresno, CA70 mi · high 83°F · 3 wet days
- Cooler: Mammoth Lakes, CA34 mi · high 60°F · 6 wet days
How Yosemite Valley ranks in May
- Normal high261st warmest of 378 cities; 47th of 60 in California
- Wet days92nd driest of 378
What to pack for Yosemite Valley in May
- Layers – afternoons near 71°F but nights near 45°F
Heating and cooling
May has 247 heating degree days and 15 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 5% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Yosemite Valley in May?
The normal high is 71°F and the normal low is 45°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 90°F (May 31, 2001).
Does it rain a lot in Yosemite Valley in May?
About 6 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.9 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2019 (5.3 in); the driest was in 2010, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Yosemite Valley in May?
Yes. Normal snowfall in May is 0.1 in.
Is May a good time to visit Yosemite Valley?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Yosemite Valley (79 out of 100). It has about 19 comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Yosemite Park Hq (USC00049855), 0.8 mi NW of the city center, 4,018 ft (52 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Hetch Hetchy (USC00043939), 19 mi NW of the city center, 3,870 ft (96 ft lower 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).