Centennial, CO weather in May
Expect mild weather with some rain in Centennial in May, with highs near 69°F and lows near 43°F. Rain or snow falls on about 10 days. Snowfall averages about 1.2 in. Great for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 69°F
- Normal low
- 43°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 2.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.2 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 63°F | 75°F |
| Normal low | 38°F | 48°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 33% | 29% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:00 am / 7:53 pm | 5:34 am / 8:20 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 (Mountain Time).
A typical May day
- 6 am48°Fdew point 37°F
- 9 am59°Fdew point 36°F
- Noon65°Fdew point 34°F
- 3 pm66°Fdew point 35°F
- 6 pm62°Fdew point 36°F
- 9 pm54°Fdew point 38°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Denver Centennial Airport (2 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 29% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 54%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F16 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below3 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 31
Average days per May, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in May
Normal precipitation is 2.0 in; a dry May brings about 1.3 in and a wet one about 2.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.2 in.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202020: average high 75°F
- Coolest May2015: average high 62°F
- Wettest May2015: 4.4 in
- Driest May2010: 0.6 in
- Highest reading93°F (May 29, 2003)
- Lowest reading16°F (May 2, 2013)
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 | 60°F | 69°F | 81°F |
| Normal low | 34°F | 43°F | 52°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 12 | 16 | 10 |
| Daylight | 13.3 h | 14.4 h | 14.9 h |
Highs change by +9°F from April and +12°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: Greeley, CO59 mi · high 75°F · 11 wet days
- Drier: Taos, NM222 mi · high 70°F · 5 wet days
- Cooler: Breckenridge, CO62 mi · high 54°F · 10 wet days
How Centennial ranks in May
- Normal high291st warmest of 378 cities; 9th of 17 in Colorado
- Wet days189th driest of 378
- Comfortable days73rd most of 339
What to pack for Centennial in May
- Layers – afternoons near 69°F but nights near 43°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
Frost in May
The last spring frost typically comes around May 5; in 1 year in 10 it comes after May 17. All frost dates for Centennial.
Heating and cooling
May has 303 heating degree days and 15 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 5% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Centennial in May?
The normal high is 69°F and the normal low is 43°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest May reading was 16°F (May 2, 2013).
Does it rain a lot in Centennial in May?
About 10 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.0 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (4.4 in); the driest was in 2010 (0.6 in).
Does it snow in Centennial in May?
Yes. Normal snowfall in May is 1.2 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is May a good time to visit Centennial?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Centennial (74 out of 100). It has about 16 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Denver Centennial Airport (USW00093067), 1.6 mi ESE of the city center, 5,883 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Kassler (USC00054452), 13 mi WSW of the city center, 5,587 ft (254 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Aurora Buckley Fld ANGB (USW00023036), 12 mi NE of the city center, 5,663 ft (178 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Buckley Air Force Base (724695-23036), 12 mi NE of the city center, 5,663 ft (178 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.