Rochester, MN weather in May
May in Rochester: mild, with frequent rain. Highs 68°F, lows 47°F, about 13 wet days and about 0.5 in of snow.
- Normal high
- 68°F
- Normal low
- 47°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 4.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.5 in
- normal snowfall
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 62°F | 74°F |
| Normal low | 41°F | 53°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 42% | 44% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:01 am / 8:12 pm | 5:30 am / 8:44 pm |
| Daylight | 14.2 h | 15.2 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 am51°Fdew point 44°F
- 9 am58°Fdew point 46°F
- Noon63°Fdew point 46°F
- 3 pm65°Fdew point 46°F
- 6 pm63°Fdew point 46°F
- 9 pm57°Fdew point 45°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Rochester Intl Airport (8 mi away); average wind 12 mph; clear or few clouds in 56% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 36%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F14 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 and snow in May
Normal precipitation is 4.3 in; a dry May brings about 3.1 in and a wet one about 5.1 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.5 in.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202018: average high 75°F
- Coolest May1996: average high 62°F
- Wettest May2013: 12.3 in
- Driest May2002: 1.5 in
- Highest reading97°F (May 14, 2013)
- Lowest reading24°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 | 55°F | 68°F | 78°F |
| Normal low | 35°F | 47°F | 58°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 13 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 7 | 14 | 13 |
| Daylight | 13.5 h | 14.8 h | 15.4 h |
Highs change by +13°F from April and +10°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: Cedar Rapids, IA145 mi · high 74°F · 13 wet days
- Cooler: Duluth, MN192 mi · high 57°F · 12 wet days
How Rochester ranks in May
- Normal high303rd warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 3 in Minnesota
- Wet days349th driest of 378
- Comfortable days124th most of 339
What to pack for Rochester in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 13 days
Heating and cooling
May has 263 heating degree days and 32 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 4% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Rochester in May?
The normal high is 68°F and the normal low is 47°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest May reading was 24°F (May 3, 2005).
Does it rain a lot in Rochester in May?
About 13 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.4 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2013 (12.3 in); the driest was in 2002 (1.5 in).
Does it snow in Rochester in May?
Yes. Normal snowfall in May is 0.5 in.
Is May a good time to visit Rochester?
May ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Rochester (71 out of 100). It has about 14 comfortable days and about 1 day at 90°F or hotter. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Rochester Intl Airport (USW00014925), 8.2 mi S of the city center, 1,304 ft (280 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Rochester International Airport (726440-14925), 8.2 mi S of the city center, 1,305 ft (281 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.