Estes Park, CO weather in May
In May, Estes Park sees highs around 60°F and lows around 39°F: cool and snowy. Expect about 12 wet days. Snowfall averages about 14.0 in. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 60°F
- Normal low
- 39°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 2.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 14.0 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 54°F | 66°F |
| Normal low | 33°F | 44°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 38% | 36% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:01 am / 7:57 pm | 5:34 am / 8:25 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).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)13 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below7 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more2 of 31
Average days per May, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in May
Normal precipitation is 2.3 in; a dry May brings about 1.5 in and a wet one about 2.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 14.0 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20201994: average high 68°F
- Coolest May2015: average high 53°F
- Wettest May2017: 5.8 in
- Driest May2006: 1.3 in
- Highest reading86°F (May 30, 2003)
- Lowest reading11°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 | 51°F | 60°F | 72°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 39°F | 49°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 12 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 5 | 13 | 19 |
| Daylight | 13.3 h | 14.4 h | 15.0 h |
Highs change by +9°F from April and +12°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: Fort Collins, CO27 mi · high 71°F · 12 wet days
- Drier: Vail, CO68 mi · high 60°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Breckenridge, CO68 mi · high 54°F · 10 wet days
How Estes Park ranks in May
- Normal high362nd warmest of 378 cities; 15th of 17 in Colorado
- Wet days288th driest of 378
What to pack for Estes Park in May
- A warm jacket – lows near 39°F, highs near 60°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – about 14.0 in of snow in a typical year
Frost in May
The last spring frost typically comes around May 30; in 1 year in 10 it comes after Jun 14. All frost dates for Estes Park.
Heating and cooling
May has 486 heating degree days and 2 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 7% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Estes Park in May?
The normal high is 60°F and the normal low is 39°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest May reading was 11°F (May 2, 2013).
Does it rain a lot in Estes Park in May?
About 12 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.3 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2017 (5.8 in); the driest was in 2006 (1.3 in).
Does it snow in Estes Park in May?
Yes. Normal snowfall in May is 14.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is May a good time to visit Estes Park?
May ranks 4th of 12 months on our comfort score for Estes Park (70 out of 100). It has about 13 comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, snowfall and snow depth: Buckhorn Mtn 1 E (USC00051060), 20 mi NE of the city center, 7,400 ft (129 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain and frost dates: Estes Park 3 Sse (USC00052761), 2.0 mi S of the city center, 7,812 ft (283 ft higher 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).