New Bedford, MA weather in May
New Bedford is mild in May, with frequent rain: highs average 67°F and nights drop to about 46°F. Expect about 13 wet days.
- Normal high
- 67°F
- Normal low
- 46°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 3.3 in total
- Daylight
- 14.5 h
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 63°F | 72°F |
| Normal low | 42°F | 50°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 42% | 42% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 5:40 am / 7:41 pm | 5:12 am / 8:10 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 am51°Fdew point 46°F
- 9 am59°Fdew point 46°F
- Noon63°Fdew point 46°F
- 3 pm63°Fdew point 46°F
- 6 pm59°Fdew point 46°F
- 9 pm53°Fdew point 47°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Plymouth Muni Airport (22 mi away); average wind 8 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 (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)17 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain (temperature and rain only)3 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow13 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 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 3.3 in; a dry May brings about 2.5 in and a wet one about 4.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 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 72°F
- Coolest May2005: average high 60°F
- Wettest May2006: 7.6 in
- Driest May2015: 0.7 in
- Highest reading95°F (May 26, 2010)
- Lowest reading28°F (May 1, 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 | 57°F | 67°F | 76°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 46°F | 55°F |
| Wet days | 13 | 13 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 6 | 17 | 19 |
| Daylight | 13.3 h | 14.5 h | 15.1 h |
Highs change by +10°F from April and +9°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: Paterson, NJ175 mi · high 73°F · 12 wet days
- Cooler: Nantucket, MA50 mi · high 61°F · 12 wet days
How New Bedford ranks in May
- Normal high310th warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 9 in Massachusetts
- Wet days344th driest of 378
What to pack for New Bedford in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 13 days
Heating and cooling
May has 270 heating degree days and 13 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 4% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is New Bedford in May?
The normal high is 67°F and the normal low is 46°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest May reading was 28°F (most recently on May 1, 2008).
Does it rain a lot in New Bedford in May?
About 13 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.3 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2006 (7.6 in); the driest was in 2015 (0.7 in).
Is May a good time to visit New Bedford?
May ranks 3rd of 12 months on our comfort score for New Bedford (75 out of 100). It has about 17 comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best months are June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: New Bedford Muni Airport (USW00094726), 3.0 mi NNW of the city center, 80 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: E Wareham (USC00192451), 16 mi ENE of the city center, 30 ft (69 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Plymouth Muni Airport (USW00054769), 22 mi NNE of the city center, 149 ft (50 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Boston Logan Intl Airport (USW00014739), 50 mi N of the city center, 12 ft (87 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).