Mackinac Island, MI weather in May
May in Mackinac Island: cool, with frequent rain. Highs 62°F, lows 41°F, about 12 days with rain.
- Normal high
- 62°F
- Normal low
- 41°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 2.9 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 56°F | 67°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 47°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 40% | 38% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:25 am / 8:45 pm | 5:52 am / 9:20 pm |
| Daylight | 14.3 h | 15.5 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 am44°Fdew point 39°F
- 9 am55°Fdew point 42°F
- Noon61°Fdew point 41°F
- 3 pm63°Fdew point 41°F
- 6 pm61°Fdew point 40°F
- 9 pm52°Fdew point 41°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Pellston Rgnl Airport (21 mi away); average wind 8 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F9 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph1 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below3 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 and snow in May
Normal precipitation is 2.9 in; a dry May brings about 2.0 in and a wet one about 3.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.1 in.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20201998: average high 68°F
- Coolest May1997: average high 54°F
- Wettest May2002: 5.1 in
- Driest May1992: 0.3 in
- Highest reading93°F (May 21, 2012)
- Lowest reading10°F (May 12, 1999)
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 | 49°F | 62°F | 72°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 41°F | 52°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 12 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 9 | 17 |
| Daylight | 13.6 h | 14.9 h | 15.7 h |
Highs change by +13°F from April and +10°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: Traverse City, MI89 mi · high 67°F · 12 wet days
How Mackinac Island ranks in May
- Normal high353rd warmest of 378 cities; 8th of 8 in Michigan
- Wet days292nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days225th most of 339
What to pack for Mackinac Island in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 12 days
Frost in May
The last spring frost typically comes around May 7; in 1 year in 10 it comes after May 22. All frost dates for Mackinac Island.
Heating and cooling
May has 422 heating degree days and 5 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 5% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Mackinac Island in May?
The normal high is 62°F and the normal low is 41°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest May reading was 10°F (May 12, 1999).
Does it rain a lot in Mackinac Island in May?
About 12 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.9 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2002 (5.1 in); the driest was in 1992 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Mackinac Island in May?
Yes. Normal snowfall in May is 0.1 in.
Is May a good time to visit Mackinac Island?
May ranks 5th of 12 months on our comfort score for Mackinac Island (66 out of 100). It has about 9 comfortable days. The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Cheboygan (USC00201492), 15 mi SSE of the city center, 588 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: St Ignace Mackinac Br (USC00207274), 5.0 mi W of the city center, 595 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Pellston Rgnl Airport (USW00014841), 21 mi SSW of the city center, 705 ft (107 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Pellston Regional Arpt Of Emmet County Arpt (727347-14841), 21 mi SSW of the city center, 706 ft (108 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).