Rockford, IL weather in May
Rockford is mild in May, with frequent rain: highs average 71°F and nights drop to about 50°F. There are about 13 days with rain.
- Normal high
- 71°F
- Normal low
- 50°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 4.2 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 | 44°F | 55°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 42% | 41% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 5:51 am / 7:55 pm | 5:22 am / 8:25 pm |
| Daylight | 14.1 h | 15.0 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 am53°Fdew point 47°F
- 9 am62°Fdew point 48°F
- Noon67°Fdew point 48°F
- 3 pm69°Fdew point 48°F
- 6 pm66°Fdew point 47°F
- 9 pm59°Fdew point 48°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Rockford Gtr Rockford Airport (5 mi away); average wind 9 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F15 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 in May
Normal precipitation is 4.2 in; a dry May brings about 3.0 in and a wet one about 4.9 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, 1991-20202007: average high 78°F
- Coolest May1997: average high 64°F
- Wettest May1996: 11.8 in
- Driest May1992: 0.5 in
- Highest reading99°F (May 27, 2012)
- Lowest reading26°F (May 3, 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 | 60°F | 71°F | 81°F |
| Normal low | 39°F | 50°F | 60°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 13 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 9 | 15 | 10 |
| Daylight | 13.4 h | 14.6 h | 15.2 h |
Highs change by +11°F from April and +10°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Cooler: Sister Bay, WI224 mi · high 59°F · 11 wet days
How Rockford ranks in May
- Normal high246th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 8 in Illinois
- Wet days327th driest of 378
- Comfortable days87th most of 339
What to pack for Rockford in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 13 days
Heating and cooling
May has 199 heating degree days and 54 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 3% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Rockford in May?
The normal high is 71°F and the normal low is 50°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 99°F (May 27, 2012).
Does it rain a lot in Rockford in May?
About 13 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.2 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (11.8 in); the driest was in 1992 (0.5 in).
Is May a good time to visit Rockford?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Rockford (72 out of 100). It has about 15 comfortable days and about 1 day at 90°F or hotter. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Rockford Gtr Rockford Airport (USW00094822), 5.4 mi S of the city center, 730 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Greater Rockford Airport (725430-94822), 5.4 mi S of the city center, 725 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).