Cedar Rapids, IA weather in May
May in Cedar Rapids: mild, with frequent rain. Highs 74°F, lows 50°F, about 13 wet days.
- Normal high
- 74°F
- Normal low
- 50°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 4.7 in total
- Muggy days
- 1
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 69°F | 78°F |
| Normal low | 44°F | 55°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 40% | 42% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:02 am / 8:05 pm | 5:33 am / 8:34 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 (Central Time).
A typical May day
- 6 am53°Fdew point 48°F
- 9 am61°Fdew point 50°F
- Noon67°Fdew point 50°F
- 3 pm69°Fdew point 50°F
- 6 pm67°Fdew point 49°F
- 9 pm60°Fdew point 50°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Cedar Rapids Muni Airport (9 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 56% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 35%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F16 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 in9 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 4.7 in; a dry May brings about 3.4 in and a wet one about 6.2 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, 1991-20202012: average high 81°F
- Coolest May1996: average high 67°F
- Wettest May2004: 10.1 in
- Driest May1992: 0.3 in
- Highest reading96°F (May 28, 2018)
- Lowest reading25°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 | 63°F | 74°F | 82°F |
| Normal low | 38°F | 50°F | 60°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 13 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 12 | 16 | 8 |
| Daylight | 13.4 h | 14.6 h | 15.2 h |
Highs change by +11°F from April and +8°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Cooler: Rochester, MN145 mi · high 68°F · 13 wet days
How Cedar Rapids ranks in May
- Normal high211th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 3 in Iowa
- Wet days335th driest of 378
- Comfortable days56th most of 339
What to pack for Cedar Rapids in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 13 days
Heating and cooling
May has 166 heating degree days and 64 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 3% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Cedar Rapids in May?
The normal high is 74°F and the normal low is 50°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 96°F (May 28, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in Cedar Rapids in May?
About 13 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.7 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2004 (10.1 in); the driest was in 1992 (0.3 in).
Is May a good time to visit Cedar Rapids?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Cedar Rapids (72 out of 100). It has about 16 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 and frost dates: Cedar Rapids #1 (USC00131319), 4.0 mi NE of the city center, 813 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Cedar Rapids Muni Airport (USW00014990), 9.4 mi SSW of the city center, 868 ft (60 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Eastern Iowa Regional Airport (725450-14990), 9.6 mi SSW of the city center, 840 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.