South Bend, IN weather in May
South Bend is mild in May, with frequent rain: highs average 70°F and nights drop to about 48°F. Expect about 13 wet days.
- Normal high
- 70°F
- Normal low
- 48°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 | 65°F | 75°F |
| Normal low | 43°F | 53°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 43% | 41% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:41 am / 8:42 pm | 6:13 am / 9:12 pm |
| Daylight | 14.0 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 (Eastern Time).
A typical May day
- 6 am52°Fdew point 46°F
- 9 am60°Fdew point 48°F
- Noon65°Fdew point 49°F
- 3 pm68°Fdew point 48°F
- 6 pm66°Fdew point 48°F
- 9 pm59°Fdew point 48°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport (4 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 52% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 38%.
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 2.5 in and a wet one about 5.7 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, 1991-20201991: average high 78°F
- Coolest May1997: average high 62°F
- Wettest May2018: 8.3 in
- Driest May1994: 0.8 in
- Highest reading97°F (May 27, 2012)
- Lowest reading25°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 | 59°F | 70°F | 79°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 48°F | 58°F |
| Wet days | 13 | 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 +9°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: Cincinnati, OH200 mi · high 75°F · 14 wet days
- Cooler: Sister Bay, WI246 mi · high 59°F · 11 wet days
How South Bend ranks in May
- Normal high265th warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 6 in Indiana
- Wet days350th driest of 378
- Comfortable days111th most of 339
What to pack for South Bend in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 13 days
Frost in May
The last spring frost typically comes around May 1; in 1 year in 10 it comes after May 17. All frost dates for South Bend.
Heating and cooling
May has 231 heating degree days and 48 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 4% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is South Bend in May?
The normal high is 70°F and the normal low is 48°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 97°F (May 27, 2012).
Does it rain a lot in South Bend 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 2018 (8.3 in); the driest was in 1994 (0.8 in).
Is May a good time to visit South Bend?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for South Bend (71 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, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport (USW00014848), 3.8 mi WNW of the city center, 773 ft (81 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: South Bend Regional Airport (725350-14848), 3.8 mi WNW of the city center, 772 ft (80 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.