Lowell, MA weather in May
Lowell is mild in May, with frequent rain: highs average 70°F and nights drop to about 45°F. There are about 13 days with rain.
- Normal high
- 70°F
- Normal low
- 45°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 3.8 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 66°F | 74°F |
| Normal low | 40°F | 50°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 40% | 40% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 5:39 am / 7:45 pm | 5:10 am / 8:15 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 (Eastern Time).
A typical May day
- 6 am51°Fdew point 44°F
- 9 am60°Fdew point 43°F
- Noon66°Fdew point 42°F
- 3 pm67°Fdew point 42°F
- 6 pm64°Fdew point 43°F
- 9 pm58°Fdew point 44°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Manchester Airport (22 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 22% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 61%.
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 more0 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 3.8 in; a dry May brings about 2.5 in and a wet one about 4.8 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, 1991-20202015: average high 77°F
- Coolest May2005: average high 62°F
- Wettest May2006: 11.6 in
- Driest May2015: 0.7 in
- Highest reading96°F (May 29, 2016)
- Lowest reading28°F (May 3, 2008)
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 | 35°F | 45°F | 55°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 13 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 8 | 16 | 11 |
| Daylight | 13.4 h | 14.6 h | 15.3 h |
Highs change by +11°F from April and +9°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Cooler: Kennebunkport, ME66 mi · high 62°F · 13 wet days
How Lowell ranks in May
- Normal high267th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 9 in Massachusetts
- Wet days328th driest of 378
- Comfortable days50th most of 339
What to pack for Lowell in May
- Layers – afternoons near 70°F but nights near 45°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 13 days
Heating and cooling
May has 255 heating degree days and 22 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 4% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Lowell in May?
The normal high is 70°F and the normal low is 45°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 96°F (most recently on May 29, 2016).
Does it rain a lot in Lowell in May?
About 13 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.8 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2006 (11.6 in); the driest was in 2015 (0.7 in).
Is May a good time to visit Lowell?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Lowell (73 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 and frost dates: Lowell (USC00194313), 2.5 mi WNW of the city center, 110 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Reading (USC00196783), 12 mi SE of the city center, 110 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Manchester Airport (USW00014710), 22 mi NNW of the city center, 225 ft (108 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Boston Logan Intl Airport (USW00014739), 24 mi SE of the city center, 12 ft (105 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Gen E L Logan International Airport (725090-14739), 24 mi SE of the city center, 11 ft (106 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.