Galena, IL weather in May
May in Galena: mild, with frequent rain. Highs 71°F, lows 48°F, about 13 wet days.
- Normal high
- 71°F
- Normal low
- 48°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 4.4 in total
- Muggy days
- 1
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 66°F | 77°F |
| Normal low | 43°F | 54°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 41% | 42% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 5:56 am / 8:01 pm | 5:27 am / 8:31 pm |
| Daylight | 14.1 h | 15.1 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical May day
- 6 am52°Fdew point 47°F
- 9 am60°Fdew point 48°F
- Noon65°Fdew point 49°F
- 3 pm67°Fdew point 49°F
- 6 pm65°Fdew point 49°F
- 9 pm58°Fdew point 48°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Dubuque Rgnl Airport (14 mi away); average wind 10 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F14 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more1 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more1 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow13 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 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 4.4 in; a dry May brings about 2.8 in and a wet one about 6.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.3 in.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202018: average high 78°F
- Coolest May1997: average high 65°F
- Wettest May1996: 7.9 in
- Driest May1992: 0.7 in
- Highest reading95°F (May 28, 2012)
- Lowest reading23°F (May 4, 2005)
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 | 59°F | 71°F | 81°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 48°F | 59°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 13 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 8 | 14 | 9 |
| Daylight | 13.4 h | 14.6 h | 15.2 h |
Highs change by +12°F from April and +10°F into June.
How Galena ranks in May
- Normal high249th warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 8 in Illinois
- Wet days334th driest of 378
- Comfortable days125th most of 339
What to pack for Galena in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 13 days
Heating and cooling
May has 211 heating degree days and 48 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 3% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Galena in May?
The normal high is 71°F and the normal low is 48°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 95°F (May 28, 2012).
Does it rain a lot in Galena in May?
About 13 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.4 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (7.9 in); the driest was in 1992 (0.7 in).
Does it snow in Galena in May?
Yes. Normal snowfall in May is 0.3 in.
Is May a good time to visit Galena?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Galena (70 out of 100). It has about 14 comfortable days and about 1 day at 90°F or hotter. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature and frost dates: Bellevue L&D 12 (USC00130608), 11 mi S of the city center, 603 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall and snow depth: Galena (USC00113312), 2.5 mi ESE of the city center, 822 ft (190 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Dubuque Rgnl Airport (USW00094908), 14 mi W of the city center, 1,056 ft (424 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Dubuque Regional Airport (725470-94908), 14 mi W of the city center, 1,040 ft (408 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).