Indianapolis, IN weather in May
May in Indianapolis: mild, with frequent rain. Highs 73°F, lows 54°F, about 13 days with rain.
- Normal high
- 73°F
- Normal low
- 54°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 4.8 in total
- Muggy days
- 3
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 69°F | 78°F |
| Normal low | 49°F | 59°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 42% | 40% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:44 am / 8:38 pm | 6:18 am / 9:05 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 (Eastern Time).
A typical May day
- 6 am56°Fdew point 51°F
- 9 am63°Fdew point 53°F
- Noon69°Fdew point 53°F
- 3 pm71°Fdew point 53°F
- 6 pm70°Fdew point 52°F
- 9 pm64°Fdew point 52°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Indianapolis (9 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 more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more3 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow13 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in9 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 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 4.8 in; a dry May brings about 2.9 in and a wet one about 6.3 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, 1991-20202018: average high 83°F
- Coolest May1997: average high 67°F
- Wettest May1996: 8.9 in
- Driest May2018: 1.4 in
- Highest reading95°F (May 28, 2018)
- Lowest reading27°F (May 9, 2020)
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 | 64°F | 73°F | 82°F |
| Normal low | 43°F | 54°F | 63°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 13 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 13 | 14 | 7 |
| Daylight | 13.3 h | 14.4 h | 14.9 h |
Highs change by +9°F from April and +9°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: Bowling Green, KY193 mi · high 79°F · 12 wet days
- Cooler: Milwaukee, WI243 mi · high 67°F · 12 wet days
How Indianapolis ranks in May
- Normal high218th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 6 in Indiana
- Wet days348th driest of 378
- Comfortable days149th most of 339
What to pack for Indianapolis in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 13 days
Heating and cooling
May has 131 heating degree days and 86 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 3% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Indianapolis in May?
The normal high is 73°F and the normal low is 54°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 95°F (May 28, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in Indianapolis in May?
About 13 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.8 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (8.9 in); the driest was in 2018 (1.4 in).
Is May a good time to visit Indianapolis?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Indianapolis (69 out of 100). It has about 14 comfortable days. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Indianapolis (USW00093819), 8.6 mi SW of the city center, 790 ft (72 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Indianapolis International Airport (724380-93819), 8.1 mi WSW of the city center, 792 ft (74 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).