Lakeland, FL weather in May
Lakeland is hot in May, with some rain: highs average 91°F and nights drop to about 67°F. Expect about 8 wet days.
- Normal high
- 91°F
- Normal low
- 67°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 4.0 in total
- Daylight
- 13.5 h
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 89°F | 92°F |
| Normal low | 64°F | 70°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 21% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:47 am / 8:02 pm | 6:31 am / 8:19 pm |
| Daylight | 13.2 h | 13.8 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
A typical May day
- 6 am72°Fdew point 66°F
- 9 am79°Fdew point 67°F
- Noon84°Fdew point 66°F
- 3 pm86°Fdew point 65°F
- 6 pm82°Fdew point 65°F
- 9 pm77°Fdew point 66°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Tampa Intl Airport (36 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 30% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 37%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)1 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more14 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow8 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 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 4.0 in; a dry May brings about 1.8 in and a wet one about 4.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202017: average high 94°F
- Coolest May2013: average high 86°F
- Wettest May2009: 16.4 in
- Driest May2001: 0.01 in
- Highest reading100°F (May 31, 2019)
- Lowest reading43°F (May 1, 1992)
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 | 86°F | 91°F | 93°F |
| Normal low | 61°F | 67°F | 72°F |
| Wet days | 6 | 8 | 15 |
| Comfortable days | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Daylight | 12.8 h | 13.5 h | 13.9 h |
Highs change by +5°F from April and +2°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Cooler: Daytona Beach, FL99 mi · high 85°F · 7 wet days
How Lakeland ranks in May
- Normal high15th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 23 in Florida
- Wet days124th driest of 378
What to pack for Lakeland in May
- Light, breathable clothing – highs near 91°F
Heating and cooling
May has 0 heating degree days and 425 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 10% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Lakeland in May?
The normal high is 91°F and the normal low is 67°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 100°F (most recently on May 31, 2019).
Does it rain a lot in Lakeland in May?
About 8 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.0 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2009 (16.4 in); the driest was in 2001 (0.01 in).
Is May a good time to visit Lakeland?
May ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Lakeland (44 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day (judged by temperature only) and about 14 days at 90°F or hotter. The best months are January, February and December.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Plant City (USC00087205), 12 mi W of the city center, 110 ft (86 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Lakeland 2 (USC00084802), 5.1 mi SW of the city center, 139 ft (57 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Tampa Intl Airport (USW00012842), 36 mi W of the city center, 19 ft (177 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).